286 DESCRIPTION OF PLATE. [chap. rs. 



a way as to have a slight j)lay backwards and forwards ; 

 a string from the lower part of the stick is fastened 

 to the trigger, one from the upper leads through the 

 ranurod tubes (the ramrod being taken out), and passes 

 across the pathway ; it is evident that when an animal 

 pushes the string the gun will go off. A few points 

 have to be observed; one is, that the string should, 

 not be too tight, else as soon as it is touched the 

 trigger will be pulled, and the bullet make only a 

 skin wound in front of the animal's chest. The other, 

 a very important point, is that the height to which 

 the gun is lashed should be such as to send the bullet 

 through the beast's heart, or thereabouts. The rule 

 is, that for a hyena the barrel should be as high as 

 a man's knee from the ground, but for a lion a span (or 

 eight inches) higher. Neither the string nor the stick 

 that is lashed to the stock, and which acts as a lever, 

 should be too strong, lest, if the animal carries aU 

 before him in a rush, they should not break, but the 

 gun be torn from its supports and smashed. 



When a hon's death is determined upon by means 

 of a spring- gim, advantage is taken of the first animal 

 that he kills ; this is probably found half eaten, and the 

 lion is sure to return to his prey the ensuing night. 

 Bushes are then put round the carcase, a doorway is 

 made to one side of a couple of posts, against these 

 two posts the gun is lashed, and the trigger-string passes 

 across the doorway to the opposite side (see plate). 



I have never seen instances of native poison doing 

 much mischief; that of the Damaras is in practice very 

 harmless. I have seen plenty of people who had been 



