238 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CHAP. 



feeling that it was pursued, turned quickly round, and immediately 

 jumped upon the muzzle of my gun, which I fired into its stomach 

 and rolled it over. I now heard my brother shouting my name at 

 only a few yards' distance ; running towards him, as I feared some 

 accident, I found a large bear half lying and half sitting upon the 

 ground, growling and biting at the hard-wood loading-rod which V. 

 Baker had thrust into a bullet wound behind its shoulder; he 

 seemed surprised that the bear would not die at once. This was 

 exceedingly dangerous, as the animal might have recovered sufficient 

 strength to have directed an attack at an unguarded moment. 

 Having a heavy hunting-knife of 3 Ibs. weight, I gave it a blow 

 across the skull, which cleft it to the brain and terminated its 

 struggles. This was exactly the occasion upon which an accident 

 might have occurred, and when a spear would have been of use. 



I cannot understand why persons who reside in India neglect 

 the assistance of dogs for the various kinds of hunting. Bull 

 terriers would be invaluable for tracking up a wounded tiger or 

 bear, and the latter might be hunted by such dogs even without 

 being wounded. At any rate, well -trained dogs would be of 

 immense assistance, but I have never seen them used. During 

 the cool season of Central and Northern India the climate is most 

 favourable, and the dogs could work during the hottest hours of 

 the day without undue fatigue. Mr. Sanderson set the example 

 some years ago, and had some interesting hunts ; he describes the 

 Ursus labiatw as rendered powerless, in spite of its great strength 

 and activity, as one bull terrier invariably seized it by the nose ; 

 this is the most sensitive part, and easy to hold, as it is long, and 

 connected with a projecting upper lip, which is almost prehensile 

 in this variety. His experience proved that three dogs were 

 sufficient to hold any bear, as the claws, although dangerous to the 

 tender skin of a man, were too blunt to tear the tough but yielding 

 hide of the dog. 



There are two other varieties of bears in the continent of India, 

 the black (Urstis Thibetanus) and the brown, both of which are 

 confined to Cashmere and the Himalayah range. I have had no 

 personal experience of these animals, therefore I do not presume to 

 offer myself as an authority ; but from the accounts I have received 

 from those who have hunted them successfully, they are much the 

 same in their habits as the average of their species. 



The dangerous character of bears, in like manner with all other 

 animals, was accredited at a time when breechloaders and high 

 velocities were unknown, but with a -577 rifle and 6 drama of 

 powder, or a No. 12 spherical and 7 drams of powder, I cannot 



