CHOICE OF WEAPONS 291 



a double -500 express, and backed by a double 

 8-bore firing a bullet of 1164 grains of solid lead, 

 propelled by 10 drams of black powder, constituted 

 my collection of rifles for big-game shooting, and 

 they were supplemented by a good, stoutly built 

 shot-gun and a rook-rifle for small antelope and 

 large birds impenetrable to shot. In course of 

 time I discarded the -SOS for the '450 cordite, 

 a magnificent wea|)on, and capable of dealing 

 effectively with any animal on earth. This, how- 

 ever, I found extremely heavy to carry, and, in 

 my final journey, I found that, so remarkably 

 had the craft of the gunsmith advanced, I was en- 

 abled to effect the most satisfactory results with a 

 double 'STS. If I should again hunt big game in 

 Africa, I would only take two rifles, a double 

 •350 and a double '500, and these I have no 

 hesitation in recommending to any one who may 

 be contemplating a journey into the interior for 

 sporting purposes. It is some years now since 

 I used my old 8-bore, and I do not think, con- 

 sidering the immense power of the '500 cordite 

 rifle, that I should feel inclined to subject myself 

 again to its appreciable recoil ; but for all that I 

 have a keen recollection of the comfort I have 

 derived from the consciousness, in moments of 

 uncertainty, that it was ready at my back, neither 

 am I unmindful that on one occasion at least the 

 old 8-bore undoubtedly relieved me from a situa- 

 tion of some precariousness. Let it not, however, 

 be forgotten that the weapon weighed something 

 over 19 lbs., and required some strength of fore- 

 arm for its effective use. 



