MAMMALS OF NORTHEEN CAITADA 219 



few miles east of the Wilmot Horton River, I noticed the 

 countenanoe of an Indian assistant who was at the door 

 suddenly change colour and exhibit much fear. I asked 

 him what ailed him, and he muttered " sass," which is the 

 Chipewyan general term for bear. I got up immediately, 

 looked out, and with much delight saw what under the pecu- 

 liarly hazy mirage of the hour, when objects not far away 

 appear comparatively gigantic, one enormous and two young 

 Barren Ground bears coming direct for our camp. I at 

 once roused tip our 'best shots and made ready to accord 

 them a very warm reception; but just as they were about 

 arriving within range of our muzzle-loaders (there were no 

 breech-loading rifles in those days) the mother bear per- 

 ceived the tent as well as our crouched party, which, under 

 the stated atmospheric conditions must have struck her with 

 fearful astonishment, as she instantly got up on her haunches, 

 a proceeding followed by her offspring (over two years old). 

 After having a fairly good look at us, they all bolted, while 

 apparently not one of the dozen balls fired at them went 

 home, as they scampered away at a rapid pace and so 

 escaped. On the succeeding evening, another large animal 

 was seen and he appeared to be making right for our encamp- 

 ment; but although he was allowed to approach quite close, 

 we failed to secure him. On another occasion, several of 

 our Indian hunters observed a bear busily engaged in feed- 

 ing on the carcase of a reindeer, which had probably died 

 from the effects of a bullet-wound received a short time 

 previously on the Arctic coast, near Langton Harbour, Frank- 

 lin Bay. As soon as they were noticed he got up on his 

 hind legs, and after a square look at them, decided to retire, 

 and succeeded in doing so scathless. 



Sir John Richardson states, in his "Boat Voyage in 

 Search of Admiral Franklin," that Chief Trader John Bell 

 informed him of the melancholy death of an Indian in the 

 vicinity of Fort Good Hope. " This poor man having set 

 several snares for bears went to visit them alone. The event 



