90 THE BUFFALO. 



beast on the spot, unless indeed one is near enough to shoot for the centre of the neck — 

 a small mark, but the most deadly place in which any animal can be struck. 



If only picked shots are taken, Buffaloes may be killed with a small-bore express, a 

 solid bullet being substituted, if possible, for the hollow one ; but it is cruelty to animals 

 to fire small bullets in thick cover, where it is impossible to take an accurate aim. Under 

 such circumstances, I agree with Mr. Sanderson and all experienced hunters of Large Game, 

 that the heaviest weapons, which the sportsman can manage, should be used. Large rifles, 

 however, require large charges, and nothing is gained by increasing the calibre of the rifle 

 unless the charge of powder is in proportion to it. With properly constructed rifles, very 

 heavy charges may be used without inconvenience, and I have habitually fired seven drams 

 from a 12-bore, and nine drams from a io-bore, without feeling the recoil in the least. A 

 spherical bullet, hardened with mercury, driven by such charges, will frequently go clean 

 through the largest animal. 



I have heard of Buffaloes being shot from horseback in open country, and the sport 

 has been described to me as most exciting : I have never had an opportunity of trying it. 

 There is, of course, a certain amount of risk, and the hunter should be well mounted. 



A friend of mine has also shot Buffaloes from small native ' dug out ' boats in which he 

 followed the animals in shallow water and among high reeds where he could have done 

 nothing on foot. In this way he bagged some fine bulls and met with some stirring adven- 

 tures ; a large herd having on one occasion charged savagely to within fifteen yards of the 

 boat, which they were only prevented from upsetting by heavy rifles and steady shooting. 



In April 1878 I was shooting with two friends in the Bhutan Dooars, Rhinoceros and 

 Buffaloes being what we were principally in quest of. 



The second morning we were out, we obtained ' khubr' of two 'Rhinos' from some 

 woodcutters, and were endeavouring to track them through a belt of thick reeds, which, as it 

 turned out, they had passed quickly through. I had gone on to the end of the covert, and 

 as the line of Elephants approached within about a hundred yards, had just given up all 

 hope of seeing anything, when suddenly a bull Buffalo, who had been hitherto lying perfectly 

 quiet, rushed out within seventy yards of me. I got a good shot at his broad back, and believe 

 that I hit with my second barrel also, but the bull blundered off, and a shot from one of the 

 other guns also failed to stop him. Hurrying in pursuit along the well marked track, I soon 

 heard him in the thick reeds, and forcing my Elephant along at his best pace, I fired shot 

 after shot into the bull as he crashed through the heavy jungle, eventually compelling him to 

 leave its shelter and take to the open plain. Here the old bull, finding flight useless, turned 

 to bay, and shook his massive head, as he stood awaiting our approach, on three legs. One 

 foreleg was broken, so he was unable to charge with any effect; another shot or two brought 

 him to his knees ; and several more, fired from a distance of a few yards, finally rolled him 

 over. 



It is a curious fact, which all experienced sportsmen have noticed, that wounded animals 

 are the hardest to kill : shots that would have at once stopped a beast had they struck him 

 at first, seem to have no immediate effect on him when he has been already severely hit. 



