THE AMERICAN BEAR. 35Q 



About the end of December, from the abundance 

 of fruits they find in Louisiana and the neighbour- 

 ing countries^, the Bears become so fat and lazy, 

 that they can scarcely run. At this time, when the 

 animals are also in a condition to furnish a large 

 quantity of oil, they are hunted by the American 

 Indians. The nature of the chase is generally tliis. 

 The Bear chiefly adopts for his retreat the hollow 

 trunk of an old cypress ; which he climbs, and then 

 descends into the cavity from above. The hunter, 

 whose business it is to watch him into his retreat, 

 climbs by means of hooks a neighbouring tree, 

 where he seats himself opposite to the hole. In one 

 hand he holds his gun ; and in the other a torch, 

 which he darts into the cavity. Frantic with rage 

 and terror, the Bear makes a spring from his station ; 

 but the hunter seizes the mstant of his appearance, 

 and shoots him through the head or shoulder*. 



Some of the Indian tribes adopt such singular 

 ceremonies in their chase of the Bear, that 1 shall 

 transcribe the curious account of them inserted in 

 Charlevoix Travels in North America. 



" The chase of these animals is a matter of the 

 first importance, and is never imdertaken without 

 abundance of ceremony. A principal warrior fir.-t 

 gives a general invitation to all the hunters. This 

 is followed by a most strict fast of eight days, a 

 total abstinence from all kinds of food; notwith- 

 standing which, the day is passed in continual 



* Pages, i. 49. 

 A a4 



