Chapter II: Preface

A few lines only are necessary to explain the object with which these volumes are put forth. There is no modern encyclopædia to which the inexperienced man, who seeks guidance in the practice of the various British Sports and Pastimes, can turn for information. Some books there are on Hunting, some on Racing, some on Lawn Tennis, some on Fishing, and so on; but one Library, or succession of volumes, which treats of the Sports and Pastimes indulged in by Englishmen--and women--is wanting. The Badminton Library is offered to supply the want. Of the imperfections which must be found in the execution of such a design we are conscious. Experts often differ. But this we may say, that those who are seeking for knowledge on any of the subjects dealt with will find the results of many years’ experience written by men who are in every case adepts at the Sport or Pastime of which they write. It is to point the way to success to those who are ignorant of the sciences they aspire to master, and who have no friend to help or coach them, that these volumes are written.

To those who have worked hard to place simply and clearly before the reader that which he will find within, the best thanks of the Editor are due. That it has been no slight labour to supervise all that has been written, he must acknowledge; but it has been a labour of love, and very much lightened by the courtesy of the Publisher, by the unflinching, indefatigable assistance of the Sub-Editor, and by the intelligent and able arrangement of each subject by the various writers, who are so thoroughly masters of the subjects of which they treat. The reward we all hope to reap is that our work may prove useful to this and future generations.

THE EDITOR.

CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME

CHAPTER PAGE

I. ON BIG GAME SHOOTING GENERALLY
_By Clive Phillipps-Wolley._ 1

II. SOUTH AFRICA FIFTY YEARS AGO
_By W. Cotton Oswell, and Biographical Sketch by
Sir Samuel W. Baker._ 26

III. SECOND EXPEDITION TO SOUTH AFRICA
_By W. Cotton Oswell._ 88

IV. LATER VISITS TO SOUTH AFRICA
_By W. Cotton Oswell._ 119

V. WITH LIVINGSTONE IN SOUTH AFRICA
_By W. Cotton Oswell._ 142

VI. EAST AFRICA--BATTERY, DRESS, CAMP GEAR, AND STORES
_By F. J. Jackson._ 154

VII. GAME DISTRICTS AND ROUTES
_By F. J. Jackson._ 166

VIII. THE CARAVAN, HEADMAN, GUN-BEARERS, ETC.
_By F. J. Jackson._ 176

IX. HINTS ON EAST AFRICAN STALKING, DRIVING, ETC.
_By F. J. Jackson._ 185

X. THE ELEPHANT
_By F. J. Jackson._ 204

XI. THE AFRICAN BUFFALO
_By F. J. Jackson._ 214

XII. THE LION
_By F. J. Jackson._ 236

XIII. THE RHINOCEROS
_By F. J. Jackson._ 251

XIV. THE HIPPOPOTAMUS
_By F. J. Jackson._ 269

XV. OSTRICHES AND GIRAFFES
_By F. J. Jackson._ 275

XVI. ANTELOPES
_By F. J. Jackson._ 279

XVII. THE LION IN SOUTH AFRICA
_By F. C. Selous._ 314

XVIII. BIG GAME OF NORTH AMERICA
_By Clive Phillipps-Wolley._ 346

XIX. MUSK OX
_By Warburton Pike._ 428

INDEX 437

ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE FIRST VOLUME

(_Reproduced by Messrs. Walker & Boutall_)

FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS

ARTIST

THE LION’S LAST CHARGE C. Whymper Frontispiece

A CLOSE SHOT Major H. Jones to face p. 8

MOLOPO RIVER Joseph Wolf ” 10

ODDS--3 TO 1 ” ” 90

FEELING BOTH HORNS OF A DILEMMA ” ” 116

THE DROP SCENE ” ” 120

ELEPHANTS--ZOUGA FLATS ” ” 128

THREATENING OF ELEPHANTIASIS ” ” 140

A DIFFICULT STALK C. Whymper ” 166

‘TEEMING WITH GAME’ ” ” 174

CAMP WITH BOMA AT SIDE From a photograph by E. Gedge ” 176

THE BUSHMAN’S STRATAGEM C. Whymper ” 198

RESTING THE 4-BORE ON THE FALLEN TREE ” ” 212

GOOD GUIDES ” ” 244

THE RHINO RAISED HERSELF LIKE A HUGE PIG ” ” 258

A FAMILY GROUP ” ” 276

A GROUP OF SOUTH AFRICAN ANTELOPES ” ” 314

STANDING STILL AS STONE IMAGES ” ” 368

MOOSE AT HOME ” ” 398

WAPITI IN THE EMERALD PASS, C. W., from a photograph ” 402
BRITISH COLUMBIA

WOODCUTS IN TEXT
ARTIST

SPRINGBUCK, STEINBUCK, BLESBUCK AND REEDBUCK C. Whymper 1

OVER THE FALLEN TIMBER 11

SKIN AND PACK 14

INTERLACED ANTLERS From a photograph by J. Lord 17

POOR OLD SAM C. Whymper 24

VIGNETTE H. Willink 25

DEATH OF SUPERIOR J. Wolf 52

A NIGHT ATTACK, LUPAPI 66

‘POST EQUITEM SEDET “FULVA” CURA’
THE LIONESS DOES THE SCANSION 70

DEATH OF STAEL 102

MANELESS LIONS 131

DEAD BUFFALO From a photograph by E. Gedge 154

EASY STALKING COUNTRY C. Whymper 168

AT LAST THE BULL TOOK A FEW STEPS FORWARD 193

A BABY ELEPHANT C. W., after a photograph by E. Gedge 204

DEAD ELEPHANT From a photograph by E. Gedge 213

BULL BUFFALO 216

BLISSFUL IGNORANCE C. Whymper 224

‘OFTEN ATTENDED BY BIRDS’ ” 226

THE BUFFALO WAS CLOSE UPON HIM ” 234

DEAD RHINOCEROS AND GUN-BEARER From a photograph by F. J. Jackson 252

‘I WAS KNOCKED OVER’ C. Whymper 262

‘IN THIS AWKWARD POSITION’ ” 267

DEAD HIPPOS From a photograph by E. Gedge 269

C. HARVEYI, G. PETERSI, N. MONTANUS, AND C. BOHOR C. Whymper 279

PLAN OF AN ORYX STALK F. J. Jackson 281

PLAN OF A GAZELLA GRANTII STALK ON ROMBO PLAIN 282

PLAN OF AN HARTEBEEST STALK 283

BUBALIS JACKSONI C. Whymper 291

ORYX COLLOTIS AND BUBALIS COKEI ” 294

KOBUS KOB 297

ADULT AND IMMATURE GAZELLA GRANTII 298

THE WALLERI 307

B. SENEGALENSIS C. Whymper 311

MY BEST LION 326

‘SPRINGING UPON HIS VICTIM’ C. Whymper 337

MY BEST KOODOO 344

PUMA (_Felis concolor_) C. Whymper 349

DEAD GRIZZLY From a photograph by A. Williamson, Esq. 352

SPECIMEN SKULL OF BLACK BEAR AND GRIZZLY BEAR From a photograph 354

‘SPRING IN THE WOODS’ C. Whymper 370

COLONEL BEDSON’S HERD OF BUFFALOES C. W., from a photograph 379

A PILE OF BUFFALO BONES C. Whymper 380

A GROUP OF BIGHORN 382

MR. ARNOLD PIKE’S GREAT RAM From a photograph 386

ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOATS 390

ANTILOCAPRA AMERICANA C. Whymper 393

A HERD OF PRONGHORNS ” 395

THE RECORD HEAD From a photograph 397

ABNORMAL PALMATED WAPITI HEAD 414

WOODLAND AND BARREN GROUND CARIBOU ANTLERS C. Whymper 415

TYPICAL MULE DEER (_C. macrotis_) From a photograph 419

ABNORMAL HEAD OF MULE DEER 420

THE WHITE-TAIL’S HAUNT C. W., from a photograph by J. Lord 422

GUANACO, C. PALUDOSUS, C. COLUMBIANUS C. Whymper 425

MUSK OX 428

VIGNETTE H. Willink 435

BIG GAME SHOOTING

2 Steinbuck.

3 Blesbuck.

4 Reedbuck.]