of North Carolina. 113 



It is most certain, that they hide themselves in the most 

 Secret Places, otherwise the Indians, who constantly hunt in 

 the Woods, and kill thousands of He ones, would at some time 

 or other have found them. Bear-hunting is a very gi'eat 

 Diversion amongst the Christians and Indians, the former 

 have a Breed of Dogs fit for that kind of Sport, about the 

 size of Farmers Curs ; these by practice become acquainted 

 with the Scent of the Bears, which as soon as they have found 

 they run him by the Nose 'till they come up with him, and 

 then bark and snap at him 'till he Trees. By the Noise of 

 the Dogs the Huntsmen repair to the place, and find the Bear 

 in a large Tree, where they generally shoot one after another, 

 'till they kill him : And though they are not naturally vora- 

 cious, yet are they very fierce, and will fight most desperately 

 when wounded, for wdiich reason there are three or four of 

 these Huntsmen together with Guns ready, for fear the first 

 shot should miss, or not quite kill him. 



If any of these Dogs should fasten on a Bear, the Hunts- 

 man looks upon him as not good, for the best Dog in Europe 

 is nothing in their Paws, for when ever they get a Dog in 

 their Clutches they either tear him in pieces, or blow the Skin 

 from the Flesh like a Bladder, and sometimes kill him ; but if 

 he recovers, he never is good for any thing afterwards. As 

 the Paws are accounted the best Morsel of this Creature, so 

 is the Head esteemed the worst, and is therefore cast away, 

 for the Brain is said to be Poisonous. They are not near so 

 plenty now as they were some Years ago in this Province, 

 where the Planters have kill'd four or five Hundred in one 

 Season; the reason is because they are so very easily kill'd, 

 for the least Dog will make them Tree, where they most com- 

 monly remain 'till shot, for the Dog continues barking about 

 the Tree 'till the Planters come to their Assistance. The 



8 P Parts 



