4o6 



ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA 



suspend the butt, as shown, so that it swings freely and may 

 be pulled forward without any effort. The two posts driven 

 into the ground, one on each side of the stock, keep it in 

 position, and should be just far enough apart to allow of its 

 sliding easily between them. The trigger being attached by a 

 string to these posts, the animal, on taking the bait, and with 

 it the muzzle, into its mouth, shoots itself neatly. A convenient 

 way of judging the right height for the gun is to go down on 

 hands and knees in front of it, thus impersonating the hyena. 

 Thorny branches must be placed all round it, to prevent the 

 animal approaching from any direction but straight in front. 



Lion Trap for Gap in Fence. 



and there a little path should be left, exactly opposite the 

 muzzle, with a thorny barrier on each side. All can be made 

 ready during the afternoon, and the cartridge slipped in and 

 gun cocked last thing in the evening. 



Fig. B shows the best way of setting a gun at an opening 

 in a fence, as where an animal has been killed by lions and 

 every other entrance blocked except a narrow one in front of 

 the muzzle. The gun is securely tied to posts (or convenient 

 small trees may often be utilised both in this and the previous 

 method) and the trigger tied back to the guard, so that the 

 hammer works freely up and down without cocking. A piece 

 of light, hard wood is then cut, of the shape shown in the 

 drawing, to support the raised hammer, its base resting beside 



