APPENDIX B 363 



Rifles — ^Ammunition. — ^A heavy rifle is not advised. The only 

 animals that can be classed as dangerous are the jaguar and white- 

 jawed peccary, and a 30-30 or 44 calibre is heavy enough for such 

 game. The 44-caHbre Winchester or Remington carbine is the arm 

 generally used throughout South America, and 44 calibre is the only 

 ammunition that one can depend upon securing in the field. Every 

 man has his own preference for an arm. However, there is no need 

 of carrying a nine or ten pound weapon when a rifle weighing only 

 from six and three fourths to seven and one half pounds will do all 

 that is necessary. I, personally, prefer the small-calibre rifle, as it can 

 be used for birds also. The three-barrelled gun, combining a double 

 shotgun and a rifle, is an excellent weapon, and it is particularly valuable 

 for the collector of natural-history specimens. A new gun has just 

 come on the market which may prove valuable in South America where 

 there is such a variety of game, a four-barrel gun, weighing only eight 

 and one fourth pounds. It has two shotgun barrels, one 30 to 44 

 calibre rifle and the rib separating the shotgun barrels is bored for a 

 22-calibre rifle cartridge. The latter is particularly adapted for the 

 large food birds, which a heavy rifle-bullet might tear. Twenty-two- 

 calibre ammunition is also very light and the long 22 calibre exceed- 

 ingly powerful. Unless in practice it proves too complicated, it would ' 

 seem to be a good arm for all-round use — sixteen to twenty gauge is 

 large enough for the shotgun barrels. Too much emphasis cannot be 

 placed upon the need of being provided with good weapons. After the 

 loss of all our arms in the rapids we secured four poor, rusty rifles which 

 proved of no value. We lost three deer, a tapir, and other game, and 

 finally gave up the use of the rifles, depending upon hook and line. A 

 25 or 30 calibre high-power automatic pistol with six or seven inch 

 barrel would prove a valuable arm to carry always on the person. It 

 could be used for large game and yet would not be too large for food 

 birds. It is to be regretted that there is nothing in the market of this 

 character. 



We had our rifle ammunition packed by the U. M. C. Co. in zinc 

 cases of one hundred rounds each, a metallic strip with pull ring clos- 

 ing the two halves of the box. Shot-cartridge, sixteen gauge, were 

 packed the same way, twenty-five to the box. 



The explorer would do well always to have on his person a compass, 

 a light waterproof bag containing matches, a waterproof box of salt. 



