DIFFICULTY IN USING THE GUN. 
147 
Great expectations had been formed when I arrived among 
tho Makololo on this subject; but, having invariably de- 
clined to docoivo them, as some for their own profit have 
done, my mon now supposed that I would at last consent, 
and thereby rcliovo myself from tho hard work of hunting 
by employing them after duo medication. This I was most 
willing to do, if I could havo done it honestly; for, having 
but litllo of tho hunting-/wrore in my composition, I always 
preferred eating tho game to killing it. Sulphur is the 
remedy most admired, and I romembor Scchelo giving a 
large price for a very small bit. Ho also gave somo 
elephants’ tusks, worth £30, for another medicine which 
was to make him invulnerablo to musket-balls. As 1 
uniformly recommondod that these things should bo tested 
by experiment, a calf was anointed with the charm and 
tied to a tree. It proved decisivo, and Secholo remarked 
it was “pleasanter to bo deceived than undeceived.” I 
offerod sulphur for tho same purposo, but that was declined, 
oven though a person camo to tho town aftorward and 
rubbed his hands with a little before a successful trial of 
shooting at a mark. 
I explained to my men tho nature of a gun, and tried to 
teach them, but they would soon havo oxpended all the 
ammunition in my possession. I was thus obliged to do 
all tho shooting myself over afterward. Thoir inability 
was rather a misfortune ; for, in consequence of working 
too soon after having been bitten by tho lion, tho bono of 
my left arm had not united well. Continual hard manual 
labor, and somo falls from ox-back, lengthened the liga- 
ment by which the ends of tho bones were united, and a 
false joint was tho consequence. Tho limb has never boon 
painful, as thoso of my companions on the day of the ren- 
counter with tho lion have been; but, there being a joint 
foo many, I could not steady tho riflo, and was always 
obliged to shoot with the pioco resting on tho left shoulder, 
f wanted steadiness of aim, and it generally happened that 
