94 
THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY 
tion was engaged by the dogs, force the fork against the 
back of his neck, and pin him to the ground, until the rest 
could secure him. This caused much diversion to the com- 
pany, as well from the singularity of the plan, as the sincere 
manner in which it was spoken by J — . He, however, 
nothing discouraged at their mirth, procured his pole," and, 
with great gravity, proceeded towards executing his plan. 
Confident of success, he approached the Bear with much 
caution, who heeded nothing but his antagonists in front, 
and was not aware of his new enemy. J — succeeded in 
reaching the log, on which he mounted, immediately over 
the Bear, and in the very spot he desired to stand; thus 
prepared, he made a push at the back of the Bear’s neck, 
with his forked pole, thinking that, so soon as his antago- 
nist felt the pressure, he would counteract it by resistance, 
and therefore inclined the whole force of his body in that 
direction; during this time nothing could exceed. the mirth 
of the party, the soberness with which the Bear defended 
himself, in his upright posture, and the ludicrous appear- 
ance of J — , when about yoking the Bear, created a scene 
of laughter not easily to be described; while some, unable 
to give vent sufficiently to their merriment, laid down and 
rolled about in the snow. Bruin, himself, was up to a thing 
or two, and envious of their mirth at his expense, conclu- 
ded to turn the joke upon his antagonist, for, just at the 
moment when J — pressed with all his force against him, 
instead of resisting the push, threw himself forward, which 
brought J — from his equilibrium, and tumbled him over 
the Bear’s head, and before he could make another spring, 
Bruin made fair play at his breech, with a blow so well 
directed, as to remove the seat of his pantaloons completely, 
and then gave chase with open jaws; this was too much for 
the risible faculties of the party, who, being completely 
overcome, were rolling in the snow, convulsed with laugh- 
ter, and entirely heedless of the situation in which J — was 
placed, for the Bear was close at his heels, for forty yards, 
and would inevitably have caught him, had it not been for 
the old dog, which rushed on and seized the Bear, and 
brought him to a stand. J — , too, could not help joining 
in the general mirth, occasioned by his defeat, although 
pursued, by his inveterate enemy, with a determined spirit 
of revenge, in despite of his white flag, streaming from 
behind. This plan having failed, we procured a small sap- 
ling, and whilst the battle was raging, placed it across the 
Bear’s back, and, by our weight, pressed him to the earth, 
when we succeeded in tying his legs together by withes; 
we also secured his mouth, for fear that, when ascending 
or descending hills, he probably would slide along the pole 
and bite us; having him perfectly secured, we carried him 
by passing a pole through his legs, to our homes, as a sight 
to our families, and a ti-ophy of our perseverance. When 
their curiosity was satisfied, we concluded to take a social 
glass, and try the effect of rum on Bruin; to treat him with 
a drink we thought no more than fair, after his rough usage, 
and accordingly poured down his throat a gill of old New 
England, when he also, like many others, showed a fond- 
ness for the cretur, and began to lick his chops for more. 
We then cut the withes from his legs, to see what effect the 
liquor produced on him; he soon began to show signs 
of beastly intoxication , as he would shut his eyes, fold 
himself up, and appear to sleep, but, on touching him 
with a stick, he would rise, make a jump as far as he 
could, but no sooner touch the ground than he would 
lie down and fall to sleep again. We finally put an 
end to his existence, and distributed his remains among 
the company ; in all probability, we should have kept 
him alive, had it not been for the loss of his fore-paw, 
as this was the only injury he had received, being 
scarcely hurt by the dogs, and it may be worth sta- 
ting, that old bears, when fat, and in a wild state, seldom 
suffer much from dogs, even if numerous. In consequence 
of the length of their fur, and quantity of fat, the dogs 
cannot press their teeth into the Bear’s flesh, and the ex- 
tent of suffering on the Bear’s part, is only a little worri- 
ment from which they soon relieve themselves by climbing 
a tree. 
February 21, 1831. W. W. 
HUNTING IN INDIA. 
Of all the pleasant modes of travelling in the East, that 
of riding leisurely in the cool season over your ground, and 
making diversions to the right or left — as the country seems 
likely to promise sport — is the most so. Your tent is 
pitched under some wide-spreading banian tree, or in the 
midst of a cool grove of mangoes; where it is delicious to 
repose during the heat of the day — extended luxuriously 
upon a sofa, when all around are sunk to rest; to smoke a 
manilla cheroot, and with eyes half-shut to exhale the fra- 
grant clouds, and zrehale the cool breeze, which steals 
through the open doors of the tent. Your dogs seem to 
enjoy it as much as yourself; they stretch, and yawn, and 
sigh, and, looking up in your face, beat the ground with 
their tails with every demonstration of extreme canine lux- 
ury; now and then snapping at the mosquitoes that buzz 
about the tent, and doubtless dreaming of the summer-flies 
of their own dear land. 
I love dogs as much as horses; without them I really do 
not see how the world could go on. When the sun declines, 
you put on your straw hat and shoes, and stroll forth into 
