THE COMMON BEAR. 351 



to the elbow ; and, taking his stiletto in this hand, 

 and his knife in the left, he advances towards the 

 animal^ who on its hind-legs waits the attack. The 

 hunter, the moment it opens its mouth, with great 

 resolution and address thrusts his hand into its throat; 

 and placing the stiletto there^ not only prevents it 

 from shutting its mouth, but also gives it such ex- 

 quisite pain, that the Bear can make no further re- 

 sistance, and suffers the hunter either to stab it 

 with his knife, or to lead it about wherever he 

 pleases *. 



These animals are so numerous in Kamtschatka, 

 that they are often seen roaming about the plains in 

 great companies ; and they would infaUibly have long 

 since exterminated all the inhabitants, were they 

 not here much more tame and gentle than the ge- 

 nerality of Bears in other parts of the world. In 

 spring, they descend in multitudes from the moun- 

 tains (where they have passed the winter) to the 

 mouths of the rivers, for catching fish, which swarm 

 in all the streams of that peninsula. If there be 

 plenty of this food, they eat nothing but the heads 

 of the fish ; and when, at any time, they find the 

 fishermen's nets, they dexterously drag them out 

 of the water, and empty them of their contents. 



When a Kamtschadale espies a Bear, he endea- 

 vours to conciliate its friendship at a distance, ac- 

 companying his gestures by courteous words. The 

 Bears are indeed so familiar here, that tlie women 

 and girls, when gathering roots and herbs, or turf 



* Giicve. 



