( m ) 



means are found of reconciling them, for they have 

 a remedy for every thing. 



The hunters make good cheer whilft the hunting 

 lafts, and, if it is ever fo little fuccefsful, bring home 

 fufficient to regale their friends, and to maintain 

 their families a long time. To fee the reception gi- 

 ven them, the praifes with which they are loaded, 

 and their own air of felf-fatisfaction and applaufe, 

 you would imagine them returning from fome im- 

 portant expedition, loaden with the fpoils of a con- 

 quered enemy. One muft be a man indeed, fay 

 they to them, and they even Ipeak fo of themfelves, 

 ' thus to combat and overcome bears. Another par- 

 ticular, which occafions them no lefs eulogiums, 

 and which adds equally to their vanity, is the cir- 

 cumftance of devouring all, without leaving a mor- 

 fel uneaten, at a grand repaft given them at their 

 return by the perfon who commanded the hunting- 

 party. The firft difli ferved up is the larger! bear 

 that has been killed, and that too whole, and with, 

 all his entrails. He is not even fo much as Head, 

 they being fatisfied with having ringed off the hair 

 as is done to a hog. This feaft is facred to I know 

 not what genius, whofe indignation they apprehend, 

 ihould they leave a morfel uneaten. They muft not 

 fo much as leave any of the broth in which the 

 meat has been boiled, which is nothing but a quan- 

 tity of oil, or of liquid fat. Nothing can be more 

 execrable food, and there never happens a feaft of 

 this fort, but fome one eats himfelf to death, and 

 feveral fuffer feverely. 



The bear is never dangerous in this country, but 

 when he is hungry, or after being wounded. They, 

 however, ufe abundance of precautions in approach- 

 ing him. They feldom attack the men, on the 



con- 



i 



