BROWN BEAR. 
the place of chafe, numbers muft concur; but, as they tell each other 
their dreams, they never fail to agree: whether that may arife from 
complaifance, or by a real agreement in the dreams from their 
thoughts being perpetually turned on the fame thing. 
The chief of the hunt now gives a great feaft, at which no one 
dares to appear without firft bathing. At this entertainment they eat 
with great moderation, contrary to their ufual cuftom. The matter 
of the feaft alone touches nothing; but is employed in relating to 
the guefts antient tales of the wonderful feats in former chafes: 
and frefh invocations to the manes of the deceafed bears conclude 
the whole. They then fally forth amidft the acclamations of the 
village, equipped as if for war, and painted black. Every able 
hunter is on a level with a great warrior; but he mutt have killed 
his dozen_great beafts before his character is eftablifhed: after which 
his alliance is as mucit courted as that of the moft valiant captain. 
They now proceed on their way in a direct line: neither rivers, 
marfhes, or any other impediments, ftop their courfe; driving before 
them all the beafts which they find in their way. When they arrive 
in the hunting-ground, they furround as large a fpace as their com+ 
pany will admit, and then contraét their circle; fearching, as they 
contract, every hollow tree, and every place fit for the retreat of the 
Dear, and continue the fame practice till the time of the chafe is ex+ 
pired. 
As foon as a bear is killed; a hunter puts into-its mouth a lighted 
pipe of tobacco, and, blowing into it, fills the throat with the fmoke, 
conjuring the fpirit of the animal not to refent what they are going 
to do to its body; nor to render their future chafes unfuccefsful. 
As the beaft makes no reply, they cut out the {tring of the tongue, 
and throw it into the fire: if it crackles and runs in (which it is al- 
moft fure to do) they accept it as a good omen; if not, they confider 
that the fpirit of the beaft is not appeafed, and that the chafe of the 
next year will be unfortunate. 
The hunters live well during the chafe, on provifions which they 
bring with them.. They return home with great pride and felf- 
fufficiency ; 
63 
