Sporting Trips of a Subaltern 



it was caused by an injury through fighting when 

 young. 



Oryx bulls are exceedingly pugnacious, and 

 with their long rapier-like horns would inflict 

 frightful wounds on one another were it not that 

 Nature, stepping in, provides them the bulls 

 only with circular patches of thick hard skin 

 covering their withers. These are greatly valued 

 by the Somalis as shields, ranking only second in 

 value to those made of rhino hide. I put them 

 to more peaceable uses as tea-tables, in which 

 capacity they look well, as they take a very high 

 polish. 



While on the subject of oryx shields I will 

 mention a peculiar incident, proving their strength 

 or the rottenness of hollow bullets, which you 

 like. I might add, though, that this was the 

 one and only occasion to my knowledge that 

 a hollow bullet explosive, as they are called 

 ever " sold me a pup " on this trip, though I 

 never used them with dangerous game. I had 

 ridden a heavy oryx bull, and bayed him under a 

 tree. I jumped off my pony, and went in with my 

 rifle to finish him. The rifle was a *500 Express, 

 a hammerless ejector by one of the best makers, 

 altogether the best rifle at the time that money 

 could buy. Going, perhaps, a bit close to my bull, 

 he suddenly lowered his head and leaped at me. 

 My rifle was all ready, and I gave him a bullet just 



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