52 VOYAGE TO THE 



in getting a bear alive to the scene of combat, and 

 there is also some risk and expense attending it. We 

 were informed that when a fight is determined upon 

 three or four horsemen are dispatched with lassos to 

 the woods where the bears resort, and that when they 

 come to an advantageous spot they kill a horse or a 

 bullock as a bait, and hide themselves in the wood. 

 Sometimes they have to wait a whole day or more 

 before any of these animals appear, but when they 

 come to partake of the food, the men seize a favour- 

 able opportunity, and rush upon them at different 

 points with their lassos, and entangle one of them 

 until he is thrown upon the ground, when they manage 

 to suspend him between the horsemen, while a third 

 person dismounts and ties his feet together; he is 

 then extended upon a hide and dragged home ; during 

 which time it is necessary, they say, to keep him con- 

 stantly wet to allay his thirst and rage, which amounts 

 almost to madness — and woe to him who should be 

 near if he were to break away from his fastenings. 

 The entangling of the animal in the first instance ap- 

 pears to be by no means devoid of risk, as in case of 

 the failure of a lasso it is only by speed that a rider 

 can save himself and his horse. The bear being 

 caught, two or three men are dispatched for a wild 

 bull, which they lasso in an equally dexterous man- _ 

 ner, catching him either by the horns or by whichso- 

 ever leg they please, in order to trip him up and 

 retain him between them. 



It is necessary to begin the fight as soon as the 

 animals are brought in, as the bear cannot be tempted 

 to eat, and is continually exhausting himself in strug- 

 gling for his liberty. The two animals are then tied 

 together by a long rope, and the battle begins, some- 



