YELLOW AND GRIZZLY BEARS. 51 



souri Indians often go to war in small detachments 

 against this animal, and trophies made from the 

 skin are not only highly esteemed, but dignify 

 the individual who obtains them. Dr. James saw 

 on the necks of several warriors, ornaments con- 

 structed of the long fore-paws separated from the 

 foot, and tastefully arranged in a radiating manner. 

 One of the band of Pawnee warriors who encoun- 

 tered a detachment of his party, near the Kanza, 

 was adorned in like manner with the skin of the 

 forefeet, while the claws remained upon it, and 

 hung suspended on his neck. Yet the Grizzly Bear 

 is not exclusively carnivorous ; he often feeds on 

 vegetables, and digs up a variety of roots. 



That the species once inhabited the Atlantic 

 states, and were then much dreaded by the Indians, 

 seems evident from a tradition of the Delawares 

 respecting the big naked Bear. They believe that 

 the last of this tremendous race formerly existed 

 east of Hudson's river, amid deep pine forests, and 

 wild rocks, covered with eternal snow. And even 

 now, this formidable creature is often presented by 

 the Indians before the minds of their crying chil- 

 dren to frighten them to silence; 



Governor Clinton assures us, that an Indian 

 trader told a friend of his that the Grizzly Bear 

 had been seen fourteen feet in length ; and yet that, 

 notwithstanding his ferocity, he has been sometimes 

 domesticated, an Indian belonging to a tribe on the 

 head waters of the Mississippi having one in a re- 

 claimed state. This bear was the innocent cause of 

 a serious affray between two neighbouring tribes. 

 His master sportively directed him to take a seat in 



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