A SHIKAEIE SUEPRISED. 137 



place, but generally when the beast is 

 accidentally met by a single person face to 

 face, and the injury inflicted on the instant, 

 before the unfortimate individual has time 

 either to retreat or defend himself ; the bear 

 being probably as much frightened, and as 

 anxious to escape as its victim. They 

 seldom wantonly attack a person without 

 molestation, imless thus suddenly stumbled 

 upon ; although one is occasionally known 

 to do so, as if from sheer ferocity. 



At Hooree, a village in the upper part of 

 Gurwhal, on the Ganges, there lives a strong- 

 athletic Puharrie, noted as a great shikarie 

 both with the matchlock, and bow and 

 arrow ; who had sealed the fate of many a 

 grisly old bear, and a person not unlikely 

 in a case of emergency, to stand a tough 

 struggle for victory. Going out one morning 

 to look at his fields, and stooping down for 

 some purpose or other, he suddenly heard 

 something moving behind him ; starting up, 

 he turned to look round, and found himself 

 in the clutches of an old bear. He was 



