an never compete with the old Koosee Derahs for abundance of game and
thrilling excitement in sport. My genial, happy, loyal comrades
too--while memory lasts the recollection of your joyous, frank,
warm-hearted comradeship shall never fade.

CHAPTER XXVI.

Remarks on guns.--How to cure skins.--Different recipes.--Conclusion.

My remarks on guns shall be brief. The true sportsman has many
facilities for acquiring the best information on a choice of weapons.
For large game perhaps nothing can equal the Express rifle. My own
trusty weapon was a '500 bore, very plain, with a pistol grip, point
blank up to 180 yards, made by Murcott of the Haymarket, from whom I
have bought over twenty guns, every one of which turned out a splendid
weapon.

My next favourite was a No. 12 breachloader, very light, but strong
and carefully finished. It had a side snap action with rebounding
locks, and was the quickest gun to fire and reload I ever possessed. I
bought it from the same maker, although it was manufactured by W.W.
Greener.

Avoid a cheap gun as you would avoid a cheap Jew pedlar. A good name
is above riches so far as a gun is concerned, and when you have a good
gun take as much care of it as you would of a good wife. They are both
equally rare. An expensive gun is not necessarily a good one, but a
cheap gun is very seldom trustworthy. Have a portable, handy black
leather case. Keep your gun always clean, bright, and free from rust.
After every day's shooting see that the barrels and locks are
carefully cleaned and oiled. Nothing is better for this purpose than
rangoon oil.

For preserving horns, a little scraping and varnishing are all that is
required. While in camp it is a good plan to rub them with deer, or
pig, or tiger fat, as it keeps them from cracking.

To clean a tiger's or other skull. If there be a nest of ants near the
camp, place the skull in their immediate vicinity. Some recommend
putting in water till the particles of flesh rot, or till the skull is
cleared by the fishes. A strong solution of caustic water may be used
if you wish to get the bones cleaned very quickly. Some put the skulls
in quicklime, but it has a tendency to make the bones splinter, and it
is difficult to keep the teeth from getting loose and dropping out.
The best but slowest plan is to fix them in mechanically by wire or
white lead. A good preservative is to wash or paint them with a very
strong solution of fine lime and water.