78 BEAR HUNT IN 



" The 6th of September, some of our men went 

 on shore, upon the firme land to seeke for stones, 

 which are a kinde of diamond, whereof there 

 are many also in the States' Hand : and, while 

 they were seeking the stones, two of our men 

 lying together in one place, a great leane white 

 beare came suddenly stealing out, and caught 

 one of them fast by the necke ; who, not know- 

 ing what it was that tooke him by the necke, 

 cryed out and sayd, * Who is it that pulls mee 

 so by the necke V wherewith the other, that lay 

 not farre from him, lifted up his head to see 

 who it was ; and, perceiving it to bee a monstrous 

 beare, cryed out, and sayd, ' Oh, mate ! it is a 

 beare,' and therewith presently rose up, and ranne 

 away. 



" The beare at the first falling upon the man, 

 bit his head in sunder, and suckt out his blood ; 

 wherewith the rest of the men that were on the 

 land, being about twentie in number, ranne 

 presently thither, either to save the man, or 

 else to drive the beare from the body ; and 

 having charged their pieces, and bent their pikes, 

 set upon her, that still was devouring the man, 

 but, perceiving them to come towards her, fiercely 

 and cruelly ranne at them, and got another of 

 them out from the companie, which she tore in 

 pieces, wherewith all the rest ranne away. 



