THE BLACK BEAR. 167 
and also for masks worn by the females 
preserve their faces from the sunbeams, 
"'Ihch, being reflected from the snow, have 
effect of blackening the skin. They more- 
'^''er acknowledge themselves to be indebted 
these animals for their scanty knowledge in 
I'^ysic and surgery, from observing what herbs 
'■^sy have applied to wounds, and what me- 
^^ods they have pursued under any ailment, 
"^hey admit also that the bears have been 
^^eir dancing-masters. The bear-dance, as 
^^ey call it, affords sufficient evidence of this, 
’^®ing a faithful representation of every ges- 
and attitude of the sluggish and unwieldly 
^^imal. 
The fine warm fur of the bear is as gene- 
^ally py persons of the higher classes in 
^iissia as by the half-savage Kamtschadale. 
light black bear-skin is one of the most 
Mostly articles of the winter wardrobe of a man 
fashion at Moscow and Petersburg. 
