BROWN BEAR. 
from flipping on the ice. Of the fhoulder-blades they make inftiu- 
ments to cut the grafs; of the inteftines, covers for their faces, to 
protect them from the fun during fpring; and the Coffacks extend 
them over their windows inftead of glafs. The flefh and fat is among 
the chief dainties of the country *. 
Superftitions, relative to this animal, did not confine themfelves to 
America and Afia, but fpread equally over the north of Exrope. The 
Laplanders held it in the greateft veneration: they called it the Dog 
of Gop, becaufe they efteemed it to have the ftrength of ten men, 
and the fenfe of twelvet. They never prefume to call it by its 
proper name of Guouzhja, leaft it revenge the infult on their flocks ; 
but ftyle it Moedda-aigia, or the old man in a furred cloak f. 
The killing of a Bear was reckoned as great an exploit in Lapland 
as it was in America, and the hero was held in the higheft efteem by 
both fexes ; and, by a fingular cuftom, was forbid all commerce with 
his wife for three days. The Lap/anders bring home the flain beafts 
in great triumph. They erect a new tent near their former dwelling, 
but never enter it till they have flung off the drefs of the chafe. 
They continue in it three entire days; and the women keep at home 
the fame fpace. The men drefs the flefh of the Bear in the new 
tent, and make their repatt, giving part to the females; but take 
great care never to beftow on them a bit of the rump. Neither will 
they deliver to them the meat through the common entrance of the 
hut, but through a hole in another part. In fign of victory, the men 
{prinkle themfelves with the blood of the beaft. 
After they have finifhed eating the flefh, they bury the bones with 
great folemnity, and place every bone in its proper place, from a 
firm perfuafion that the Bear will be reftored, and re-animate a new 
body. 
At the pulling off the fkin, and cutting the body into pieces, they 
were ufed to fing a fong, but without meaning or rhyme ||; but the 
* Hif. Kamt/chatka, Fr. iii. 390. + Leems Lapmark, Suppl. 64. t The 
fame, 502. {| The fame, Suppi. : 
antient 
65 
