SPORTSMEN, FARMERS, 8CC. 125 



times, they ne^er put in more powder than 

 is contained in a woman's thimble. They 

 take the horn of a deer, make several trials 

 with a ball, always on the powder, and 

 when, by each time increasing the quantity 

 of powder, they find the rifle rather throws 

 back, that is to say, has a recoiling 

 motion, they draw off a small quantity of 

 the powder, cut the horn off, and use it for 

 actual service before an enemy. From 

 the weight of the barrels of their rifles being 

 somewhat more, by a few ounces, than si.v 

 pounds, and the balls so small as thirty-six to 

 the pound, they w^ill carry more than Jialf 

 the weight of the ball in pow^der. 



I had a most excellent American rifle, 

 which carried full one half of the weight of 

 the ball of our best powder, without 

 recoiling in the least. I must inform you tll'sftheir^ 



, , 1 • • n 1 • 1 Barrels have, 



also that their ritles are made with one f^dofwhat 



length the 



whole spiral turn in the barrels, which are, ^^'^'^^^^ ^"^^^ 

 as I mentioned before, three feet three 

 inches long. To strengthen and prove my 

 opinion, that it is necessary, on active service, 

 to use a much greater quantity of pow^der 



