64 
In KamTscuat- 
KA, 
BR OWN ©—B EVAR; 
fufficiency ; for to kill a bear forms the character of a complete man. 
They again give a great entertainment, and now make a point to 
leave nothing. The feaft is dedicated to a certain genius, perhaps 
that of Gluttony, whofe refentment they dread, if they do not 
eat every morfel, and even fup up the very melted greafe in which 
the meat was dreffed. They fometimes eat till they burft, or bring 
on themfelves fome violent diforders. The firft courfe is the greateft 
bear they have killed, without even taking out the entrails, or taking 
off the fkin, contenting themfelves with fingeing the fkin, as is prac- 
tifed with hogs *. 
The Kamt/chatkans, before their converfion to Chriftianity, had al- 
moft fimilar fuperftitions refpecting bears and other wild, beatts : 
they entreated the bears and wolves not to hurt them in the chafe, 
and whales and marine animals not to overturn their boats. They 
never call the two former by their proper name, but by that of Si- 
pang, or ill-luck. 
At prefent the Kaml/chatkans kill the bear and other wild beafts 
with guns: formerly they had variety of inventions; fuch as filling the 
entrance of its den with logs, and then digging down upon the ani- 
mal and deftroying it with {pears f. In Szdiria it is taken by making 
a trap-fall of a great piece of timber, which drops and crufhes it to 
death: or by forming a noofe in a rope faftened to a great log; the 
bear runs its head into the noofe, and, finding itfelf engaged, grows 
furious, and either falls down fome precipice and kills itfelf, or wea- 
ries itfelf to death by its agitations. ) 
The killing of a bear in fair battle is reckoned as great a piece of 
heroifm by the Kamt/chatkans as it is with the Americans. The victor 
makes a feaft on the occafion, and feafts his neighbors with the beaft; 
shen hangs the head and thighs about his tent by way of trophies. 
Thefe people ufe the fkins to lie on, and for coverlets; for bonnets, 
gloves, collars for their dogs, foles for their fhoes, to prevent them 
* Charlevoix, v. 169 to 174+ + Hip. Kamtfchatka, Fr. iii. 73. 
from 
