THE SPORTSMAN IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



again, in encounters with thin-skinned and dangerous beasts, such 

 as the Lion or Leopard, solid missiles are to be deprecated except 

 when used in the most skilful hands, as, although the penetration 

 obtained from them may be enormous, where the vital parts have 

 been uninjured the resulting shock to the system is exceedingly 

 small, and instances almost daily occur in which these animals have 

 been found capable of inflicting deadly injuries, although perforated 

 with many solid bullets. The weapon most desired is one capable 

 of discharging either the expanding or solid ball with equal accuracy, 

 and in this connection we mention the nam-es of Gibbs, of Bristol, 

 and Rigby and Sons, of London and Dublin, as the rifles made by 

 these firms have been in constant use, and have given more general 

 satisfaction — at least, in South Africa — than those of any other 

 manufacture. The Farquharson-Metford can be strongly and fairly 

 recommended, not alone on account of its being good enough 

 for every description of game, but because the action is very simple 

 and can easily be cleaned, while. the exploded cartridges are not 

 liable to become jammed, which is a very aggravating defect in 

 the sporting Martini. In specially referring to this rifle, our opinion 

 coincides with that of Mr. F. C. Selous, perhaps the greatest living 

 authority on such subjects, and a gentleman who has repeatedly 

 brought down bull Elephants with single bullets fired from a weapon 

 of this pattern. 



Unless bent on hunting in the low countries on the East Coast, 

 in some portions of which the large pachyderms are still very 

 numerous, the acquisition of a battery of heavy bore rifles would 

 prove quite a useless appendage. An ordinary plain shot gun, made 

 with strong cylinder barrels, can be obtained from any good manu- 

 ■ facturer at a much smaller price, and which will shoot spherical 

 bullets with an equal degree of accuracy and effect as the more 

 expensive articles advertised under different names and as combined 

 shot and ball guns.i For feathered game and small antelopes, a plain 

 1 2 -bore, with the right barrel cylinder (to take ball if necessary) and 

 the left full choke, will be found good enough to all intents and 

 purposes. Before purchasing a Martini sporting rifle, repeated trials 

 should be made as to whether the weapon is capable of properly 

 extracting the exploded Government Boxer pattern cases, as those 

 which are solid-drawn are not so easily obtained in the event of 

 their running short. 



Experience has constantly proved that' the wood-work attached 



