558 Great and Small Game of Africa 



thorn-bush, where we followed her, after I had taken my single rifle from 

 the boy (the double- 12 was useless, the breech-action being choked with 

 sand), and shot her without further incident. My companion, who was 

 elated at thus securing his first lion, said he saw the charge, and saw her 

 swerve as he reached the bank ; his second shot had hit her high and far 

 back in the flank, partly paralysing her hindquarters. My lion was a 

 splendid old male. My first shot at him was nearly a miss, the bullet 

 having passed through the fleshy part of the hind leg, inside, grazed the 

 belly, and entered the brisket obliquely ; the 1 2-bore bullet had passed 

 through his heart and completely raked him. 1 



Regarding rifles for lion-shooting, I should think a good double Lee- 

 Metford would prove very efficient, but have no experience of them for 

 this work. I have shot lions with several kinds of weapons, but un- 

 hesitatingly give the preference to the .461 Metford ; it never fails to stop 

 a lion if held straight, for a lion is a very easily killed beast, if hit in the 

 right place, and is nothing like as tough as the antelopes. I have used 

 various charges, No. 1 Gibbs 75/540, No. 1 Gibbs Express 90/360, and 

 No. 2 Gibbs Express 90/570, and although I have shot more lions with the 

 90/360, I consider the No. 2 the most efficient ; either, however, are 

 admirable. All rifles for use against lions and other dangerous game 

 should be double. As lion-shooting is so often done in the half-light of 

 morning and evening, the standing back-sight should be roughed and 

 undercut ; this does away with all shimmering in the open V, while for 

 moonlight, or the faintest daylight, enamel-fronted sights, made to slip 

 over the foresight, are very effective. A few words of caution. Avoid a 

 head-shot at a lion if possible, unless, when he is looking at you, you can 

 catch him half-way between the nose and the eyes ; otherwise the bullet 

 will surely glance. Behind the shoulder, aiming for lungs or heart, is the 

 very best shot for a lion, and if moving across in front of you, always 



1 Wc never found the lioness I first hit, though I am confident she lay dead not far off. 



