456 
YELLOW BEAR* 
character is established ; after which his aUiancc 
is as much courted as that of the most vahant 
captain. 
They now proceed on their way in a direct 
line ; neither rivers, marshes, or any other impe- 
diments, stop their course; driving before them 
all the beasts which they find in their way. When 
they arrive in the hunting-ground, they surround 
as large a space as their company will admit, and 
then contract their circle, searching, as they con- 
tract, every hollow tree, and every place fit for 
the retreat of the Bear, and continue the same 
practice till the time of the chase is expired. 
^' As soon as a Bear is killed, a hunter puts 
into its mouth a lighted pipe of tobacco, and, 
blowing into it, fills the throat with the smoke, 
conjuring the spirit of the animal not to resent 
what they are going to do to its body, nor to 
render their future chases unsuccessful. As the 
beast makes no reply, they cut out the string of 
the tongue, and throw it into the fire: if it 
crackles and runs in (which it is almost sure 
to do), they accept it as a good omen; if not, 
they consider that the spirit of the beast is not 
appeased, and that the chase of the next year will 
be unfortunate. 
The hunters live well during the chase, on 
provisions which they bring with them. They 
return home with great pride and self-sufficiency ; 
for to kill a Bear forms the character of a com- 
plete man. They give a great entertainment, 
and now make a point to leave nothing. The 
