260 
FRANK FORESTER’S FIELD SPORTS. 
short, heavy double-barrelled gun, say 30 inches in length, 12 
guage, and at least nine pounds weight, with a pair of good 
ten-inch, smooth-bored pistols, all, of course , on the percussion 
principle; for I perfectly agree with Mr. Sibley, that any man 
who calls himself a sportsman, and uses a flint-lock gun, when 
he can get a percussion, “ should be considered a fit subject for 
a commission de lunatico , and should forthwith be furnished with 
a straight jacket, at the public expense.” To these, if you 
please, maybe added one of Colt’s largest-sized revolvers—but 
about this I would not care. To make the equipment abso¬ 
lutely perfect, however, if late Grouse shooting or Wild-fowl 
shooting were intended, a heavy double gun, such as I have 
recommended for inland Duck shooting, will be found effective. 
For Eastern or English sportsmen, wishing to make their way 
to the region of Elk, Buffalo, and Grizzly Bear, I consider the 
best course to be this; to take the lake steamboat to any of the 
towns of Wisconsin, on Lake Michigan, and thence strike west¬ 
ward for Mendota and the mouth of the St. Peters, where, from 
the gentleman so often named, he will obtain every information 
and assistance he can need. All his arms, saddles, and bridles, 
as well as good powder, should be carried with him; as well as 
a high-bred hunting horse, and dogs, if he decide on carrying 
them with him; horses, mules, wagons, and all stores for his ex¬ 
pedition, he will readily obtain at his point of departure ; and, 
if he is well found and well mounted, he will find no difficulty 
in disposing of his stud and superfluous traps, barring accidents, 
on the spot, previous to his return. As a general rule, the less 
baggage he carry with him, the better he will get on; for, in 
the West, baggage will be found literally, what the old Romans 
used to term it, impedimenta. Salt, coffee, flour, and sugar—or, 
better than flour, sea bread—are the main things he will require 
in addition to blankets, a camp kettle, a tin cup or two, and am¬ 
munition. 
There is no more delightful way that I can imagine of pass¬ 
ing a few months, for a young man of leisure, than such a trip 
into the wilderness; and if he time his movements, so as to be 
