BEAR-HUNTING. 21 



one horses, seven hundred and eighteen head of 

 cattle, three thousand eight hundred and forty- 

 one dogs, and twelve thousand reindeer, the 

 latter belonging exclusively to the Koriaks. 



Unimportant as was the place where we now 

 landed, a change is always agreeable after a 

 long voyage ; and the kind and hospitable re 

 ception we met with from the commander as 

 well as the inhabitants, contributed greatly to 

 our enjoyments. 



We were gratified with a bear-hunt, which 

 produced much sport, and gave us the satisfac 

 tion of killing a large and powerful bear. This 

 animal is very numerous here, and is conse 

 quently easily met with by a hunting-party. 

 The usually timid Kamtschatkan attacks them 

 with the greatest courage. Often armed only 

 with a lance and a knife, he endeavours to pro 

 voke the bear to the combat ; and when it rises 

 on its hind legs for defence or attack, the hunter 

 rushes forward, and, resting one end of the 

 lance on the ground, plunges the other into its 

 breast, finally dispatching it with his knife. 

 Sometimes, however, he fails in the attempt, 

 and pays for his temerity with his life. 



