98 NARRATIVE OF A JOURNEY 



grizzly bear is also quite common in this neighborhood ; two have 

 just been seen in some bushes near, and they visit our camp al- 

 most every night, attracted by the piles of meat which are heaped 

 all around us. The first intimation we have of his approach is 

 a great grunt or snort, unlike any sound I ever heard, but'much 

 more querulous than fierce ; then we hear the scraping and 

 tramping of his huge feet, and the snuffing of his nostrils, as the 

 savory scent of the meat is wafted to them. He approaches 

 nearer and nearer, with a stealthy and fearful pace, but just as he 

 is about to accomplish the object of his visit, he suddenly stops 

 short ; the snuffing is repeated at long and trembling intervals, 

 and if the slightest motion is then made by one of the party, 

 away goes ^'■Ephraim,^'' like a cowardly burglar as he is, and we 

 hear no more of him that night. 



On the 23d a Nez Perce Indian, belonging to Mr. McKay's 

 company, visited us. He is one of several hunters who have 

 been sent from the fort on the same errand as ourselves. This 

 was a middle aged man, with a countenance in which shrewd- 

 ness or cunning, and complaisance, appeared singularly blended. 

 But his person was a perfect wonder, and would have served ad- 

 mirably for the study of a sculptor. The form was perfection 

 itself The lower limbs were entirely naked, and the upper part 

 of the person was only covered by a short checked shirt. His 

 blanket lay by his side as he sat with us, and was used only 

 while moving. I could not but admire the ease with which the 

 man squatted on his haunches immediately as he alighted, and 

 the position both of body and limbs was one that, probably, no 

 white man unaccustomed to it, could have endured for many 

 minutes together. The attitude, and indeed the whole figure 

 was graceful and easy in the extreme; and on criticising his per- 

 son, one was forcibly reminded of the Apollo Belvidere of Canova. 

 His only weapons were a short bow and half a dozen arrows, a 

 scalping knife and tomahawk ; with these, however, weak and in- 



