RIFLES AND AMMUNITION 199 



is to fire it yourself on the gunmaker's range, 

 several shots at the different distances both from 

 a rest and without. This precaution should 

 never be omitted even when purchasing a rifle 

 from the best gunmaker in England. No two 

 men take quite the same sighting, and a weapon 

 which may suit one man admirably, may make 

 but poor practice in the hands of another, though 

 he may be an equally good shot. 



As to carrying the rifle, that again is a matter 

 of opinion. My own practice is to hand it to 

 the trackers until I am on fresh tracks, or expect 

 to meet with game. I have never lost a beast 

 by doing so ; but even if I had, should still 

 consider it not worth while to cart even a 

 10-lb. rifle up hill and down dale under a 

 broiling sun throughout the day on the off- 

 chance of unexpectedly running up against a 

 tsaing or bison. The tracker is in his own 

 country, and the climate is nothing to him ; but 

 it is a good deal to the white man. If, when 

 tracks are not forthcoming, one takes the rifle 

 from time to time to relieve the tracker, and 

 carries it from the time tracks are struck until 

 either the shot is fired or the beast has bolted, 

 it will be found that the sportsman is taking 

 his fair share, and perhaps a bit over. Finally, 

 when the tracker is carrying the rifle let him do 

 so with the muzzle over his shoulder, pointing 

 in front of him. Then if the rifle does suddenly 



