of the Old World. 169 



were agreeably surprised to find he had already pre- 

 pared people who knew their haunts to accompany us. 

 We assembled all our people in a circle, distributed 

 the usual allowance of grog and tobacco, and after- 

 wards heard all they had to say about the game to be 

 found in the country, and the most effective manner 

 of pursuing it. After I heard all their opinions, I 

 made up my mind to start an hour before the first 

 appearance of dawn for the hill where the bears were 

 said to be, which was about a coss, or two miles, from 

 the village, and to await their returning to their caves ; 

 as in this part of the country, during the hot weather, 

 bears roam about the jungle in search of food all the 

 night and return to their caves in the morning, where 

 they remain during the intense heat of the day, 

 issuing forth again at sunset. They live chiefly upon 

 the wild fruits of the jungle and white ants, which 

 latter insect they devour in thousands, by scraping a 

 hole with their claws, and sucking them out of their 

 nests. They are also passionately fond of honey, and 

 show themselves wonderfully sharp in finding out wild 

 bees' nests, climbing lofty trees in search of them. 



