Here's some books you might really enjoy - and best of all, they're FREE! Just download and read - EASY PEASY!

http://www.gutenberg.net/

These books are by noted explorer Sir Samuel White Baker (1821-1893) during the British Empire Period... Just type his name into the search block on the Gutenberg link and it will return the list shown below. Click on the one you want to read and voila'!! Ready to go read 'til you can't keep your head up. ;) I read book #8 (Wild Beasts And Their Ways) first, and really enjoyed his stories about hunting the Rocky Mountains with the commercial hunters of the period before the Civil War...

The author discusses the guns of the period, right up to 1890 and the "Battery of Arms" a Gentleman might take for an expedition to Africa (Safare is a much later term).

Albert N'Yanza, Great Basin Of The Nile, The
by Baker, Samuel White, Sir
Released: Jan 2003

Cyprus, As I Saw It In 1879
by Baker, Samuel White, Sir
Released: Jan 2003

Eight Years' Wanderings In Ceylon
by Baker, Samuel White, Sir
Released: Jan 2000

In The Heart Of Africa
by Baker, Samuel White, Sir
Released: May 2002

Ismailia
by Baker, Samuel White, Sir
Released: Jan 2003

Nile tributaries of Abyssinia, and the sword hunters of the Hamran arabs, The
by Baker, Samuel White, Sir
Released: Mar 2000

Rifle And The Hound In Ceylon, The
by Baker, Samuel White, Sir
Released: May 2002

Wild Beasts And Their Ways, Reminiscences Of Europe, Asia, Africa And America -- Volume 1
by Baker, Samuel White, Sir
Released: Jan 2003

GOOD LUCK! ;)

Gowge,

Sir Samuel is one of my favorite writers. The story of how he met and then bought his wife is really something different. Thier life is quite a love story. His hunting with muzzle loading rifles is also interesting. Baker was a rifleman who was interested in rifles, bullets and the technical aspects of the gun. I find his writing more informative than most other writers of his day.
How could you not like a man who ran a stag down and killed it with a knife!

Gowge,

Sir Samuel is one of my favorite writers. The story of how he met and then bought his wife is really something different. Thier life is quite a love story. His hunting with muzzle loading rifles is also interesting. Baker was a rifleman who was interested in rifles, bullets and the technical aspects of the gun. I find his writing more informative than most other writers of his day.
How could you not like a man who ran a stag down and killed it with a knife!


Yea, I just re-read his comments about guns and shared it on another forum - looks like he was just like so many of us in this age - he astounded the firearms industry of his time when he loaded a huge charge of powder behind a relatively lightweight bullet and thus, made the first Express Rifle in History....

"......In 1840, I had already devoted much attention to this subject, and I drew a plan for an experimental rifle to burn a charge of powder so large that it appeared preposterous to the professional opinions of the trade. I was convinced that accuracy could be combined with power, and that no power could be obtained without a corresponding expenditure of powder. Trajectory and force would depend upon velocity; the latter must depend upon the volume of gas generated by explosion.

The rifle was made by Gibbs of Bristol. The weight was 21 lbs., length of barrel 36 inches, weight of spherical belted bullet 3 ounces, of conical bullet 4 ounces, charge of powder 16 drams. The twist was one full turn in the length of barrel. The rifling was an exceedingly deep and broad groove (two grooves), which reduced the difficulty of loading to a minimum, as the projecting belt enabled the bullet to catch the channel instantly, and to descend easily when wrapped in a greased silk patch without the necessity of hammering. The charge of powder was inserted by inverting the rifle and passing up the loading-rod with an ounce measure screwed to the end; this method prevented the powder from adhering to the sides of the barrel, and thus fouling the grooves.

An extraordinary success attended this rifle, which became my colossal companion for many years in wild sports with dangerous game. It will be observed that the powder charge was one-third the weight of the projectile, and not only a tremendous crushing power, but an extraordinary penetration was obtained, never equalled by any rifle that I have since possessed.

This weapon was in advance of the age, as it foreshadowed the modern Express, and the principle was thoroughly established to my own satisfaction, that a sporting rifle to be effective at a long range must burn a heavy charge of powder, but the weight of the weapon should be in due proportion to the strain of the explosion.

When I first visited Ceylon in 1845, there were several renowned sportsmen who counted their slain elephants by many hundreds, but there were no rifles. Ordinary smooth-bore shot-guns were the favourite weapons, loaded invariably with a double charge of powder and a hardened ball. In those days the usual calibre of a gun was No. 14 or 16. A No. 12 was extremely rare. The charge for No. 16 was 2 3/4 drams of fine grain powder, and drams for No. 12. Accordingly, the light guns, or "fowling-pieces," as they were termed, were severely tested by a charge of 6 drams of the strongest powder with a hardened bullet; nevertheless I never heard of any failure.

At a short range the velocity and penetration of an ounce spherical ball, with the heavy powder charge, were immense, but beyond 50 yards the accuracy was imperfect.

I believe I was the first to introduce rifles into Ceylon, which were then regarded by the highest authorities in the island as impractical innovations, too difficult to sight, whereas an ordinary gun could be used with ball more quickly in taking a snap-shot.

The rifles which I had provided were heavy, the 3 ounce already mentioned, 21 lbs., and a long 2 ounce by Blisset, 16 lbs. The latter was a polygroove, the powder charge only 1 1/2 dram when I originally purchased it. It was wonderfully accurate at short ranges with the small charge, which I quickly increased to 6 drams, thereby losing accuracy, but multiplying velocity....."

Interesting, note the reference to 'hardened' roundballs for large game.... just goes to show that there's not much new under the sun!!!

They hardened their lead bullets with murcury!

Gowge,
African Hunter magazine has a few on-line articles about the big 4. Thought you might be interested.
http://www.african-hunter.com/the_firearm_files.htm