IV 
THE ELEPHANT 
133 
ing charge of 8 drams of the finest grained 
powder. 
This pattern was my own invention, as I found 
by experience that the general defect of shells was 
the too immediate explosion upon impact. This 
would cause extensive damage to the surface, but 
would fail in penetration. 
Picrate of potash was at one time supposed to 
combine an enormous explosive power with perfect 
safety in carriage, as the detonating shells were 
proof against the blow of a hammer, and would 
only explode upon impact through the extreme 
velocity of their discharge from a rifle - barrel. 
These were useless against an elephant, as they 
had no power of penetration, and the shell destroyed 
itself by bursting upon the hard skin. I tried these 
shells against trees, but although the bark would 
be shattered over an extensive area, upon every 
occasion the projectile failed to penetrate the wood, 
as it had ceased to exist upon explosion on the 
surface. 
My half-pound shell was exceedingly simple. 
A cast-iron bottle, similar in shape to a German 
seltzer-water, formed the core, around which the 
lead was cast. The neck of the iron bottle pro¬ 
jected through the pointed cone of the projectile, 
and formed a nipple to receive the percussion-cap. 
In external appearance the shell was lead, the iron 
bottle being concealed within. Half an ounce of 
the finest grained powder was inserted through the 
nipple by means of a small funnel; this formed 
