206 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS 
CHAP. 
No. 12 is exceedingly powerful, and if 7 lbs. in 
weight, it can be fired with one hand like a pistol. 
This is an immense advantage, as the shooter can 
hold tight by the howdah rail with his left hand, 
while he uses his gun with the right. I always 
load the right barrel with ball, and the left with the 
same charge of powder (4^^ drams), but with either 
16 S.S.G. or ounce of A.A. or B.B. shot. For 
leopards there is nothing so certain as S.S.G. at 
20 or 30 yards ; and for hog-deer and other sorts of 
small game the smaller shot is preferable, but always 
with the same full charge of powder. 
A smooth-bore gun is much easier to use than a 
rifle from a howdah, as it is unnecessary to squint 
along the sight, but the shot is taken at once with 
the rapidity usual in ordinary shooting at flying 
objects. Care must be taken, when firing only with 
one hand, that the wrist should be turned to the 
left, so that the hammers of the gun are lying over 
in that direction instead of being erect. In that 
position the elbow is raised upon the right, and the 
recoil of the gun will not throw it up towards the 
shooter’s face, which might happen should the gun be 
held with the hammers uppermost; it is also much 
easier to hold a gun with one hand in the attitude 
described. Should a tiger spring upon an elephant, 
it would be exceedingly difficult to defend the 
animal unless by shooting with one hand, as the 
struggles of the elephant would render it impossible 
to stand. 
I had a practical example of this shortly after the 
