PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
S89 
actions with the greatest suspicion, and whose jealousy has been the CHAP, 
subject of animadversion of almost every voyager who has touched at 
this port. Dec. 
i- I 
On the 12th of December a salute was fired from the battery ; high 
mass was said in all the missions, and a grand entertainment, to which 
all the officers were invited, was given at the presidio, in honour of Santa 
Senora Guadaloupe. There was also to have been a fight between a bear 
and a bull, but for some reason not known to us — probably the trouble 
it required to bring the animal so far, as the bears do not come within 
many miles of the presidio— it did not take place ; and we were all greatly 
disappointed, as w^e had offered to reward the soldiers for their trouble, 
and had heard so much of these exhibitions from every body, that our 
curiosity had been highly excited. This is a favourite amusement with 
the Californians, but it is of rare occurrence, as there is much trouble 
in getting a bear alive to the scene of combat, and there is also some 
risk and expense attending it. We were informed that when a fight is 
determined upon, three or four horsemen are despatched with lassos to 
the woods where the bears resort, and that when they come to an ad- 
vantageous spot they kill a horse or a bullock as a bait, and hide them- 
selves in the wood. Sometimes they have to wait a whole day or 
more before any of these animals appear, but when they come to par- 
take of the food, the men seize a favourable opportunity, and rush 
upon them at different points with their lassos, and entangle one of 
them until he is thrown upon the ground, when they manage to 
suspend him between the horsemen, while a third person dismounts 
and ties his feet together; he is then extended upon a hide and 
dragged home; during which time it is necessary, they say, to keep 
him constantly wet to allay his thirst and rage, which amounts almost to 
madness — and woe to him who should be near if he were to break away 
from his fastenings. The entangling of the animal in the first instance 
appears to be by no means devoid of risk, as in case of the failure of a 
lasso it is only by speed that a rider can save himself and his horse. 
The bear being caught, two or three men are despatched for a wild 
bull, which they lasso in an equally dexterous manner, catching him 
