294 GUN CLEANING— PISTOLS 



muzzle end ; a very effective means of neutral- 

 ising the corrosive gas of which cordite fumes 

 consists being to cork up the muzzle, fill the 

 barrels with the boiling solution of soda, and stir 

 for a few seconds with a cleaning rod. This will 

 satisfactorily remove all deleterious influences 

 before the drying and greasing of the metal sur- 

 face. Many lubricants are sold, as a rule at high 

 prices, expressly to counteract corrosion in cor- 

 dite rifles ; but this expense may be avoided, and 

 precisely the same result attained by stirring a 

 dram of bicarbonate of soda into an ounce of 

 ordinary vaseline with a flexibly bladed knife, 

 and applying the mixture to the steelwork after 

 washing it thoroughly as I have described. It 

 should be remembered that as a rule the first shot 

 from a well-cleaned rifle barrel is apt to travel a 

 trifle higher than those which follow. Finally, 

 when hunting, always see that one or other of 

 your native companions is provided with an 

 efficient cleaning rod. 



I am a great believer in having in the tent at 

 night a good serviceable, heavy revolver or 

 automatic pistol. If predatory forms should 

 take it into their heads to pay one a visit, it is 

 much more quickly and quietly grasped in the 

 confined, canvas-bounded space than a long 

 cumbrous rifle, and its effect may be quite as 

 satisfactory ; but let me not be understood as 

 advocating the use for this purpose of the small, 

 silver-mounted, pearl-handled toys which I have 

 seen in the possession of some hunters ; these 

 may be well enough for production in the exciting 



