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inches from the sockets; these render them a formidable ad- 

 versary. 



Not only the wild hogs, but bears, porcupines, and many other 

 animals are particularly fond of the sugar cane, which supplies 

 them with food and beverage of a delicious kind ; and as they also 

 afford a cool retreat in hot weather, their incursions are attended 

 with incalculable mischief. Bears abound in many mountain- 

 ous tracts of Hindostan: its natural history is too well known to 

 need a description; but captain Williamson mentions some traits 

 in their character of less publicity. This gentleman says it has 

 often been in his way to see the operation of bears, and he is con- 

 fident that no animals are more cruel, more fierce, nor more impla- 

 cable. Such as have suffered under their brutality have, in all in- 

 stances within his knowledge, borne the proofs of having un- 

 dergone the most dilatory torments, some having their bones 

 macerated with little breaking of the skin, with others the flesh 

 was sucked away into long fibrous remnants, and in one instance 

 the most horrid brutality was displayed. 



Whilst stationed at Dacca, captain Williamson w r ent with a 

 party several times to Tergong, about five miles from thence. They 

 had on many occasions seen bears among the wild mango tops, and 

 did not consider them so dangerous, until one day returning with 

 another gentleman from hunting some hog-deer, ihey heard a most 

 lamentable outcry in the cover through which they had to pass. 

 Being provided with guns and spears they alighted, not doubting 

 but a leopard was attacking some poor wood-cutter. They met a 

 poor woman, whose fears had deprived her of speech, and whose 

 senses were just flitting; she however collected herself sufficiently 



