78 



THROUGH JUNGLE AND DESERT chap. 



The latter was purely an experiment, and did not prove 

 a success ; for upon impact the lead invariably left the 

 steel core, the light weight of which prevented a suffi- 

 cient degree of penetration to prove effectual. 



On the march, for the first year at least, 1 invariably 

 carried a Winchester — if on horseback, across my 

 saddle-bow; if on foot, across my shoulder. From 

 continued use, often under trying circumstances, I 

 came to have the greatest confidence in this weapon. 

 I had had my Winchesters sighted with the ordinary 

 express sight by Messrs. Holland & Holland ; and it 

 is to this fact I in great measure attribute their accu- 

 racy when used on running game. The ordinary Win- 

 chester sight is very good when one has sufficient time 

 for taking aim, but with it I found great difficulty in 

 getting a bead upon an animal moving with rapidity 

 across the line of vision. 



On this trip George invariably carried a Mannlicher, 

 and from constant use acquired as great confidence in 

 it as I in my Winchester. It is undoubtedly a fact 

 that different rifles suit different men ; but it is equally 

 true that any one can, by constant use, become accus- 

 tomed to a rifle of almost any pattern ; so accustomed, 

 in fact, that he will think, after a time, that his choice 

 is the only weapon for him ; and not only will he be 

 satisfied with it, but also, because perhaps of some 

 weakness in human nature, will become prejudiced 

 against all others. 



It is impossible to lay down a fixed rule, and say 

 which rifle is the best for general use. There is such 

 a variety of weapons, that if one takes the slightest 

 pains, he can, by experiment, pitch upon the rifle which 



