XIV 
THE BUFFALO 
69 
therefore deflected, instead of continuing a direct 
course. 
I had another unsatisfactory experiment with an 
elephant, which determined me to have nothing 
more to do with this pointed projectile, and I 
returned to my old love, the 3-oz. belted 
spherical. 
In those days we always used the finest grained 
powder, as we were afraid of a miss-fire with a 
muzzle-loading rifle, unless the grains could be 
distinctly seen in the nipple before we adjusted 
the cap. This strong and quick-burning powder 
produced a severe recoil, but the penetration was 
enormous. It is this power which is absolutely 
necessary when shooting buffaloes, rhinoceros, 
etc. If the animal charges, you have no chance of 
escape unless you possess a rifle that will rake it 
from end to end. When making a post-mortem 
examination of a bull buffalo that has been killed in 
this superior manner, the passage of the bullet 
through such dense masses of muscles and bone 
appears incredible. The depth of chest through the 
brisket from the front is at least 2 feet of solid 
matter, chiefly gristle and breast bones ; that alone 
will stop an ordinary bullet; but a 2-oz. hardened 
spherical with 12 drams of powder will drive through 
the entire animal, and the ball will be discovered 
nestled beneath the hide somewhere below the tail. 
I have known a 3-oz. hardened conical bullet pass 
completely through an African bull elephant, from 
one shoulder to that opposite, from which it 
