..” MAMMALIA, 19 
of oil, an article at the time much wanted, at length prevailed. Accordingly, in 
the morning, we surrounded the tree, both men and women, as-many at a time as 
could conveniently work at it; and there we toiled, like beavers, till the sun went 
down. This day’s work carried us about half-way through the trunk; and 
the next morning we renewed the attack, continuing it till about two o’clock in the 
_afternoon, when ‘the tree fell to the ground. For a few minutes every thing 
remained quiet, and I feared that all our expectations were disappointed; but as 
I advanced to the opening, there came out, to the great satisfaction of all our 
party, a Bear of extraordinary size, which, before she had proceeded many yards, 
I shot. . 
“< The Bear being dead, all my assistants approached, and all, but more par- 
ticularly my old mother, (as I was wont to call her,) took his head in their hands, 
stroking and kissing it several times; begging a thousand pardons for taking 
away her life; calling her their relation and grandmother ; and requesting her not 
to lay the fault upon them, since it was truly an Englishman that had put her to 
death. ‘This ceremony was not of long duration ; and if it was I that killed their 
grandmother, they were not themselves behind hand in what remained to be per- 
formed. ‘The skin being taken off, we found the fat in several places six inches 
deep. This being divided into two parts loaded two persons; and the flesh parts 
were as much as four persons could carry. In all, the carcase must have exceeded 
five hundred weight. As soon as we reached ithe lodge, the Bear’s head was 
adorned with all the trinkets in the possession of the family, such as silver arm- 
bands, and wrist-bands, and belts of wampum ; and then laid upon a scaffold, set 
up for its reception, within the lodge. Near the nose was placed a large quantity 
of tobacco. 
** The next morning no sooner appeared, than preparations were made for a 
feast to the manes. The lodge was cleaned.and swept; and the head of the Bear 
lifted up, and a new stroud blanket, which had never been used before, spread 
under it. The pipes were now lit; and Wawatam blew tobacco-smoke into the 
nostrils of the Bear, telling me to do the same, and thus appease the anger of the 
Bear, on account of my having killed her. I endeavoured to persuade my bene- 
factor and friendly adviser, that she no longer had any life, and assured him that 
I was under no apprehension from her displeasure ; but the first proposition 
obtained no credit, and the second gave but little satisfaction. At length the 
feast being ready, Wawatam made a speech, resembling, in many things, his 
address to the manes of his relations and departed companions; and we then all 
D2 
