158 THRILLING ADVENTURES. 



A WHITE BEAR. 



had a full broadside view of the first wild sheep I ever saw. 

 He was about one hundred and fifty yards off. Having ele- 

 vated the proper sight, I brought my rifle to bear on the 

 shoulder, took a steady and gradual draw of the trigger, the 

 rifle cracked, and dead came down the burrul of Thibet. 



Perhaps, up to this time, the burrul had known no other 

 mortal foe than the white, or whitey-brown bear of the hills 

 the seeta bhaloo, as he is called. And this brings me to 

 another part of my hunting excursion. 



Whether from the scarcity of food, or the amiability of 

 their dispositions, the seeta bhaloo are to be met with con- 

 stantly in small bodies of from five to ten, differing in this 

 respect from their sable brethren, who are generally found 

 alone, unless a matrimonial alliance has been formed, when 

 the intrusion of a third party, whether male or female, ensures 

 a fight. 



The white bear is only carnivorous when pressed by hunger, 

 and in that state is very destructive to the numerous Tartar 

 flocks of sheep, for Bruin with an empty larder is not to be 

 deterred from his ravenous attacks by men or dogs a haunch 

 of mutton he will have. His mode of devouring it differs 

 greatly from that of the tiger or leopard. He tears the 

 fleece off with his paws, and instead of gnawing and tearing 



