198 BIG-GAME SHOOTING IN UPPER BURMA 



maker within hundreds of miles perhaps, the 

 locks should be of the soundest. This is especi- 

 ally the case where hammerless ejector rifles are 

 used, the best of all, when good, for big game. 

 From £50 to £60 should buy a really good non- 

 ejector rifle from a first-class maker; but best 

 quality weapons can often be picked up second- 

 hand, in practically new condition, for half these 

 prices. My own rifle is not what is known as a 

 best quality weapon ; but it has stood the test of 

 time both in the hills and in the plains. It 

 has been subjected to heavy rain, cold and 

 intense heat, and has had more than one fall ; 

 but the locks are as sound as when the rifle was 

 purchased several years ago, and have only once 

 been taken to pieces and cleaned. Still, I may 

 have been fortunate, and if the higher price can 

 be afforded, it is worth while to purchase the 

 higher grade weapon. Have the safety catch 

 made non-automatic. It is annoying, to say 

 the least of it, when you have loaded the rifle, 

 and expect to see your animal every second, to 

 find when you do so that your rifle is at ' safety.' 

 Also, in the event of a charge, after hurriedly 

 reloading, there may not be time to slip the 

 safety catch forward. When carrying the rifle, 

 and not expecting to see game, the catch can 

 always be slipped back to ' safety.' There 

 seems to be only one other hint worth giving 

 with regard to the purchase of a rifle, and that 



