uently watched a party of soldiers winding along a pass,
with their white trousers, red coats, white cross-belts and brass
plates, at about four hundred yards, and thought what a raking that
rifle would give a body, of troops in such colors for a mark. A ball
of that weight with an ounce of powder, would knock down six or eight
men in a row. A dozen of such weapons well handled on board a ship
would create an astonishing effect; but for most purposes the weight of
the ammunition is a serious objection.

There is a great difference of opinion among sportsmen regarding the
grooves of a rifle; some prefer the two-groove and belted ball; others
give preference to the eight or twelve-groove and smoothbore. There
are good arguments on both sides.

There is no doubt that the two-groove is the hardest hitter and the
longest ranger; it also has the advantage of not fouling so quickly as
the many-grooved. On the other hand, the many-grooved is much easier
to load; it hits quite hard enough; and it ranges truly much farther
than any person would think of firing at an animal. Therefore, for
sporting purposes, the only advantage which the two-groove possesses is
the keeping clean, while the many-groove claims the advantage of quick
loading.

The latter is by far the more important recommendation, especially as
the many-groove can be loaded without the assistance of the eye, as the
ball, being smooth and round, can only follow the right road down the
barrel. The two-grooved rifle, when new, is particularly difficult to
load, as the ball must be tight to avoid windage, and it requires some
nicety in fitting and pressing the belt of the ball into the groove, in
such a manner that it shall start straight upon the pressure of the
loading-rod. If it gives a slight heel to one side at the
commencement, it is certain to stick in its course, and it then
occupies much time and trouble in being rammed home. Neither will it
shoot with accuracy, as, from the amount of ramming to get the ball to
its place, it has become so misshapen that it is a mere lump of lead,
and no longer a rifle-ball. My double-barreled No. 10 rifles are
two-grooved, and an infinity of trouble they gave me for the first two
years. Many a time I have been giving my whole weight to the loading
rod, with a ball stuck half-way down the barrel, while wounded
elephants lay struggling upon the ground, expected every moment to
rise. From constant use and repeated cle