FOR THE HIMALAYAS. 23 



firmly fixed and the other held in the left hand ;'by moving the 

 case backwards and forwards along the cord, keeping it from 

 revolving, the choke above the bullet will be all that can be 

 desired. The cord must pass once around the case, remember, 

 and be slightly greased. Never put a wad over the bullet, nor turn 

 down the edge of the case. Both are dangerous. 



To load rifle cartridges is a more troublesome matter, as 

 there are a good many things to be prepared before filling the 

 cases. 



Bullets should be cast of softish lead. Old Snider bullets are 

 excellent, especially for the Express. Perhaps some rifle or 

 ammunition makers will question this, but experience proves that 

 this lead is more dangerous than anything harder. Hard bullets 

 are too brittle, and fly into minute fragments. Those of Snider 

 lead break up a good deal, but you will almost invariably find the 

 base of the bullet intact, though opened out from the size of a 

 sixpence to a shilling perhaps. Hence the shock is not so wasted 

 in small and light fragments. The weight is not excessive, so 

 that is no objection. I cannot recommend copper tubes in bullets ; 

 I tried them and found they rather prevented their expansion. 

 When there is an open hollow left, there must be a body of air 

 much compressed as soon as the bullet attains its maximum 

 velocity, and this condensed air acts as a powerful disintegrator on 

 impact with the carcase of an animal. Only once did a bullet 

 burst prematurely, so to speak, and then it happened by hitting a 

 bear in the elbow joint. I aimed behind the shoulder, but she was 

 grubbing for roots, and drew her fore leg back as I fired, so 

 received the bullet on a hard mass of bones and muscles. I do 

 not believe any bullet smaller than Sir Samuel Baker's " Baby," 

 could effect much damage after meeting with such an obstacle 

 outside the carcase. Splinters of my little bullet penetrated the 

 side, and I bagged the bear with a gun bullet after a short but 

 exciting race. In any case, the tube adds weight to a bullet already 

 heavy enough. 



Paper bullet wrappers can be cut out of the tough paper called 

 "Bank Note." None of the ordinary papers will do. They 

 should be just long enough to go twice round the bullet, and to 

 enable them to be rolled on well the ends are cut obliquely. As 

 they are twice the circumference, they will be just six times the 

 diameter of the bullet. Thus, for a '500 Express, the edge AB 



