326 



IGNITION OF GUNPOWDER. 



thoroughly endorse. I do this not from antiquated 

 prejudices, but practical experiences. 



Schultze's wood powders are most uncertain any- 

 where, but in tropical and such climates as are 

 subject to great atmospheric changes they are, in my 

 humble belief, quite unreliable. This I saw stated 

 by a sportsman of world-wide repute some years 

 ago, and as opportunity offered itself, I made 

 experiments, which amply satisfied me that he 

 was correct. The importance of studying out and 

 testing to the uttermost such a subject as ivhich is 

 the most pozverfiil and reliable explosive y may be of no 

 great moment to the cockney sportsman, for a bad 

 or indifferent cartridge only entails upon him the 

 loss of a rabbit, pheasant, etc. ; but to the man who 

 makes the jungles of India, or the interior of Africa, 

 his domain, a wounded tiger or an infuriated ele- 

 phant being the beasts he has to count conclusions 

 with, life or death to the hunter may depend upon 

 the service rendered by the explosive used. 



Puffing advertisements all can read, and, except 

 to the trade, they amount to no more than so much 

 " gas," but to the public such advice as I and 

 others like myself — who prefer the pursuit of dan- 

 gerous game in the remote and little known parts 

 of the earth — can give, it is entitled to, and it may be 

 relied upon as unprejudiced, and therefore honest 

 teaching. 



By-the-bye, for the enlightenment of my readers, 

 I will add, that I have just received intelligence by 

 letter^from a United States official of high standing 

 to the following effect : — "A new section of country 

 in Texas, till lately in the hands of most danger- 

 ous redskins, is now being opened up, and in it as 

 fine shooting and fishing is to be had that any man 

 but a glutton could not fail to be pleased with." To 

 Texas is not a long road to travel, and living there 

 is economical, whether you camp out or take up your 



