3 o8 



A VOYAGE TO 



>779- too fwift of foot for them. Thefe animals keep together in 

 eptem er.^ ^g e herds ; they frequent mofily the low grounds, and 

 love to browfe at the feet of rocks and precipices. The 

 bear hunts them by fcent, till he come in fight ; when he 

 advances warily, keeping above them, and concealing him- 

 felf amongft the rocks, as he makes his approaches, till he 

 gets immediately over them, and nigh enough for his pur- 

 pofe. He then begins to pufli down, with his paws, pieces 

 of the rock amongft the herd below. This manoeuvre is 

 not followed by any attempt to purfue, until he find he has 

 maimed one of the flock, upon which a courfe immediately 

 enfues, that proves fuccefsful, or otherwife, according to the 

 hurt the barcin has received. 



I cannot conclude this digreflion, without obferving, that 

 the Kamtfchadales very thankfully acknowledge their obli- 

 gations to the bears for what little advancement they have 

 hitherto made, either in the fciences or polite arts. They 

 confefs that they owe to them all their fkill both in phyfic 

 and furgery ; that by remarking with what herbs thefe ani- 

 mals rub the wounds they have received, and what they 

 have recourfe to when fick and languid, they have become 

 acquainted with moft of the fimplcs in ufe among them, 

 either in the way of internal medicine, or external applica- 

 tion. But what will appear fomevvhat more fingular, is, 

 they acknowledge the bears likewifc for their dancing 

 mailers. Indeed, the evidence of one's fenfes puts this out 

 of difpute; for the bear-dance of the Kamtfchadales is an 

 cxaft counterpart of every attitude and geiUire peculiar to 

 this animal, through its various functions ; and this is the 

 foundation and ground-work of all their other dances, and 

 what they value thcmfclves moft upon. 



i I re- 



