14 THE SPORTSMAN'S VADE-MECUM 



firing, put an oiled rag (which should also be in the pouch) into 

 the loop, and pull it through the barrel two or three times ; the 

 rifle will then be clean, and capable of shooting its best again. Do 

 this while the barrel is still warm if possible, as the fouling is then 

 moist and soft. On your return home, after a long day, it is a 

 great comfort to know your rifle has been cleaned, and only requires 

 a rag through it once more before laying by for the night. It is 

 sometimes the custom to get the shikarie to clean it with a rod 

 and rags after the day. He is probably as tired as you, does it 

 carelessly, and perhaps strains the action. With a strong cord and 

 a rag that does not fit too tight, the rifle can be well and carefully 

 cleaned on the spot. Care must be taken to use a small rag at 

 first, and add strips until it fits the bore properly. For choice, 

 drop the plummet in at the breech and pull out from the muzzle. 



A Reserve Sox of Ammunition should be one of your tin boxes, 

 with its ten rounds in it intact. The spare pouch has been already 

 described. 



Skinning Knives. Of these there should be two to save time. If 

 you have only one, either you or the shikarie may be idle, or 

 using your hunting knife for a work it never was intended to per- 

 form : bones and hard muscles are very blunting, and it is difficult 

 to restore the razor-like edge this knife should have to be perfect. 

 A skinning-knife, on the other hand, is better with a " wire edge " 

 rough like a fine saw, in fact. This is easily restored on a piece 

 of whetstone, or any hard stone from a brook or rock. The small 

 butcher's knife in a sheath, such as merchant seamen carry, is very 



suitable for this purpose. The shape of the blade is good for its 

 work skinning and cutting up. About lOin. total length over 

 handle and blade will do well. These knives may be used for many 

 odd jobs besides skinning, such as making pegs to stretch skins, 

 cutting small wood, &c. The heavy black line on the edge shows 

 where it should be sharpened. In skinning, the portion of the 

 blade included by the dotted line from A should be chiefly used, 

 drawing the hand down and back, as shown by the arrows. 



