118 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
The next exhibition was that of three wild dogs, 
which were put into a lofty and spacious den, where a 
large bear was amusing itself by climbing a pole in 
the centre. Upon their admission the dogs showed 
the most eager impatience to reach the bear, which 
continued on the top of the pole, and did not manifest 
the slightest wish to descend and contest the honour 
of the victor’s wreath. At length, the pole being 
violently shaken, he was reluctantly forced to descend 
and encounter his yelping foes. These instantly at- 
tacked him with extreme ferocity, making him roar 
with terrific energy. He scrambled to a corner of his 
den, where, having shaken off his assailants with some 
difficulty, he placed his back against the bars, and 
squatting himself upon his hams presented his shaggy 
front to the eager attack of his fierce aggressors. One 
of them sprang at his throat and fastened there, but 
was immediately caught in the sinewy embrace of the 
bear, and died without relaxing its hold. Meanwhile, 
the other two dogs had seized their antagonist by the 
haunches, where they fixed, and made the poor beast 
bellow with pain. Being encumbered by the dog, 
which he still held in his gripe, he could for the mo- 
ment offer no resistance to his active enemies, which 
made the best of their opportunity, and lacerated him 
without remorse. 
Finding the struggle too serious to be continued, 
the bear at last fairly turned his back towards his ad- 
versaries, lying upon his belly and covering his head 
with his paws. Although the dogs could not make any 
serious impression upon the strong hairy hide of poor 
Bruin* they were nevertheless unremitted in their 
