﻿1848. INDIAN DEVOUEED BY A BEAR. 217 



By Mr. Bell, I was also informed of the melan- 

 choly death of an Indian in the vicinity of Fort 

 Good Hope. This poor man, having set several 

 snares for bears, went to visit them alone. The 

 event showed that he had found a large bear, caught 

 by the head and leg, and endeavoured to kill it with 

 arrows, several of which he shot into the neck of 

 the animal. He seems to have been afraid to ap- 

 proach near enough to give full effect to his weapons, 

 and the enraged bear, having broken the snare, flew 

 upon him and tore him in pieces. The man's son, 

 a youth of about sixteen years of age, becoming 

 alarmed by the lengthened absence of his father, 

 took his gun, and went in quest of him, following 

 his track. On approaching the scene of the tragedy, 

 the bear hastened to attack him also, but was shot 



two men belonging to Peel River Fort liad landed on Point 

 Separation, on which a body of Kutchin were at the time 

 encamped. Soon afterwards a small number of Eskimos ap- 

 proached in their kaiyaks. The Canadian would have fired 

 upon them instantly, but was restrained by his companion, who 

 did all that he could to prevent the bloodshed that ensued. The 

 leading Eskimo called to the Kutchin to lay down their guns ; 

 and, to show his own peaceful intentions, he fired his arrows into 

 the sand, and then showed his empty quiver. His signs of amity 

 were replied to .by the Canadian firing upon him and the Kutchin 

 following his example, the party was destroyed. I fear that our 

 endeavours to establish friendly relations with the Eskimos in 

 the estuary of the Mackenzie may have lured these poor people 

 to the bold advance among their enemies which ended so fatally 

 for them. 



