EXTRA GUN - STOCKS NECESSARY. 



tutions." It is almost useless to recommend a particular 

 sort of gun, as people generally choose for themselves after 

 all. Were I again to visit Africa, I would take a double- 

 barrelled smooth bore of ten or eight to the pound, 

 having strength and plain good workmanship as its only 

 recommendations. A double-barrelled rifle of about the 

 same calibre would be useful, taking care to have two 

 stocks for each gun, and that the barrels could fit into 

 either stock. I have more than once suffered from 

 smashed stocks, and they are not easily replaced in 

 Africa. A Colt's revolver would also be a very useful 

 weapon, especially when used in the saddle against 

 elands. It might be fired when going at speed, and 

 with greater accuracy than could be attained, under similar 

 conditions, by an ordinary gun. 



When I speak of the game in the immediate vicinity of 

 the two towns of D'Urban and Pietermaritzburg, I refer 

 to 1849 and '50, but I am given to understand that there 

 has not been very much decrease since that time. The 

 emigrant has other work to accomplish, and cannot be 

 always shooting. A great deal of hard work must also 

 be gone through before success in sport is certain, and 

 sportsmen therefore are more scarce than would be at 

 first considered probable. During the first three months 

 that I tried my hand at buck shooting, I shot only five. 

 After twelve months' experience, my bag, during ten 

 weeks, was forty-seven ; and I had refused several certain 

 shots at antelopes during that time, as I was on the fresh 

 spoor of buffaloes and elephants, and did not wish to dis- 

 turb the bush. 



