Some very interesting and very old readings available on that continent. Being retired now, I've gone through about 20 books in the last year with experiences dating from the 1830's up into 1910 or so. Many of those in the post 1870's (Selous) era reported the place was pretty much shot out, and it was a waste of time to go there. That, however, was mostly due to the ravages of rinderpest, and the hoofed sector subsequently recovered.
Knocking over elephants was a serious chore in the black powder days with shooters like Harris, Cumming, and Stigand sometimes needing 20+ rounds and multi-mile chases to get an animal down. Probably just weighted them down as they were shooting like 4 through 12 bores. Bell showed up with cartridge rounds, made a science of studying tusker anatomy, and started dropping them with single brain and heart shots using calibers from .256 up to and including .460. His favorite was the .303.
With today's expeditions lasting like 2 weeks and limited targets, it's hard to imagine 2 to 4 year sessions of wandering the continent harvesting ivory and rhino horn, and dropping a ton of other game each day just to feed porters and the neighborhood's trailing families.
Most certainly a more varied bag there than in the Americas.
Last edited by 1minute; 03/31/20.
