ffiear &torteg 



UR common black bear is looked upon, by 

 most people in Canada, as a very dangerous 

 animal. This dread is even shared by our In- 

 dians, and when bears are spoken of it is always 

 with great respect. In fact, the name is seldom 

 mentioned, but the bear is referred to as "the 

 black beast" or simply "the animal/' When 

 caught in a steel trap or seen at a distance, he is 

 spoken to and asked that vengeance be not taken 

 for his death. Even the bones are held in respect. 

 They are never thrown to the dogs like other 

 refuse, but placed in the fire and burned. The 

 skulls are hung up in a tree. Some parts of the 

 animal, like the paws and head, are never allowed 

 to be eaten by women or children. These last if 

 by some accident they eat any meat from the paws, 

 are supposed to be liable to suffer all their lives 

 from cold feet. At certain times bear feasts used 

 to be held, at which no women were allowed to 

 be present, and special wigwams were built 

 wherein to hold the feast. At these feasts noth- 

 ing else but bear's meat was allowed to be eaten. 

 This was prepared in various ways ; either roast- 

 ed on the spit, boiled or stewed. Blood pudding, 

 fat pudding, and pure fat of the bear are other 



