56 MEMOIR OF PENNANT. 



to the manes of the deceased bears conclude the 

 whole. They then sally forth amidst the acclama- 

 tions of the village, equipped as if for war, and 

 painted black. Every able hunter is on a level with 

 a great warrior ; but he must have killed his dozen 

 great beasts before his character is established ; 

 after which his alliance is as much courted as that 

 of the most valiant captain. They then proceed on 

 their way in a direct line ; neither rivers, marshes, 

 nor any other impediments stop their course ; driv- 

 ing before them all the beasts which they find in 

 their way. When they arrive at the hunting ground, 

 they surround as large a space as their company 

 will admit, and then contract their order; search- 

 ing, as they close in, every hollow tree, and every 

 place fit for the retreat of the bear ; and continue 

 the same practice till the time of the chase is 

 expired. 



" As soon as a bear is killed, a hunter puts into 

 its mouth a lighted pipe of tobacco, and blowing 

 into it, fills the throat with smoke, conjuring the 

 spirit of the animal not to resent what they are 

 going to do to its body, nor to render their future 

 chases unsuccessful. As the beast makes no reply, 

 they cut out the string of the tongue, and throw it 

 into the fire. If it crackles and runs in (which it 

 is almost sure to do), they accept it as a good omen ; 

 if not, they consider that the spirit of the beast is 

 not appeased, and that the chase of the next year 

 will be unfortunate. 



