THE BIG NAKED BEAR. 261 



this animal, they firft toot leave of their friends and re- 

 lations at home, confidering themfelves as going on an 

 expedition, perhaps never to return again. That when 

 out, they fought for his track, carefully attending to the 

 courfe the wind blew, and endeavouring to keep as near 

 as poflible to a river. That every man of the party 

 knew at what part of the body he was to take his aim. 

 That feme were to ftrike at the back-bone, fome at the 

 head, and others at the heart. That the laft of thefe 

 animals known of, was on the eaft fide of the Mohicanni 

 Sipu. (Hudfon's River) where, after devouring fgveral 

 Indians that were tilling their ground, a refolute p^rty, 

 well provided with bows and arrows, &c. fell upon the 

 following plan, in which they alfo fucceeded, viz. know- 

 ing of a iarge high rock, perpendicular on all fides, and 

 level on the top, in the neighbourhood of where the 

 naked bear kept, they made ladders, (Indian ladders) and 

 placing thefe at the rock, they reconnoitred the ground 

 around, and foon finding a frefli track of the animal, 

 they haflily returned, getting on the top of the rock, and 

 drawing the ladders up after them. They then fet up 

 a cry, fimilar to that of a child, whereupon this animal 

 made its way thither, and attempted to climb the rock, 

 the Indians pouring down their arrows in diiierent direc- 

 tions, all the while upon him. The animal now grew 

 very much enraged, biting with its teeth againfh the rock, 

 and attempting to tear it with its claw^s, until at length 

 they had conquered it. 



The hiftory of this animal ufed to be a fubjed; of con- 

 verfation among the Indians, efpecially when in the woods 

 a hunting. I have alfo heard them fay to their children 

 when crying : ' Hulli ! the naked bear will hear you, be 

 upon you, and devour you.' From the nature of their 

 converfation on this fiibjedl, I was led to believe the ftory 

 had foundation. Old Indians whom I queftioned on 

 L I this 



