Central African Game and Its Spoor (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1906 edition. Excerpt: ... 51 is almost useless, for it is tempered too highly, and the blade is so thick that after it has got blunt it cannot be sharpened properly without the aid of a grindstone. Never buy a knife with a folding handle, for after a little wear the spring weakens, and it is apt to close on one's hand, and besides, if the knife was wanted in an emergency it would be useless, for it takes two hands to open it. A few common butcher's skinning knives should be included to give the natives for skinning game. These can be bought for about is. For skinning small birds nothing is better than a small penknife; it can be hung on the belt swivel, and should be provided with a shackle for this purpose. If a man is going in for collecting birds he should bring out a small 410 "collector's" gun, with cartridges loaded with No. 10 shot, and a few No. 6 for the larger specimens. If a rook rifle is taken a '220 or '250 bore is large enough, for it will mainly be used for killing birds for the pot, and small mammalia such as cats, &c The cartridges for the rook rifle should be loaded with smokeless powder in preference to black, as it makes less noise, and some of the bullets should have hollow points, which increase their killing power. When one is on a trip after big game it is not advisable to fire off shot-guns in the vicinity, for this would be likely to scare away the game, whereas the report of a small rook rifle would not be heard at a great distance. It is also useful for practice on off days and helps to keep one's eye in. A pair of good field glasses is a necessity, and doubtless the latest form of prism glasses will be chosen. A magnifying power of eight diameters is strong enough for all purposes. The native hunter could carry the...