402 
COMMON BEAK., 
be hit or not. This humane character of the 
Kamtschadale bear, who herein differs so remark- 
ably from his brethren of most other countries, 
procures him, however, no exemption from the 
persecutions of mankind. His great utility is a 
sufficient instigation to the avarice of man, to de- 
clare eternal war against him. Armed with a spear, or 
club, the Kamtschadale goes in quest of the peace- 
ful animal, in his calm retreat ; who, meditating 
no attack, and intent only on defence, gravely 
takes the faggots which his persecutor brings him, 
and with them, himself chokes up the entrance of 
his den. The mouth of the cavern being thus 
closed, the hunter bores a hole through the top, 
and transfixes with the greatest security his defence- 
less foe. 
They are sometimes cruel enough to lay a board 
driven full of iron hooks, in the bear’s track ; 
placing near it something heavy, which the animal 
must throw down as he passes. Alarmed by this, 
he runs upon the board with greater force than he 
would otherwise do ; and, finding one of his paws 
wounded, and fixed by the hooks, he endeavours 
to free himself by striking it forcibly with the 
other. Both the' paws being now fixed, bellow- 
ing with pain, he rises on his hind feet ; this mo- 
tion immediately brings the board before bis eyes, 
and so perplexes him, that he throws himself down 
in fury, and his violent struggles at length destroy 
him. 
It would be difficult to name a species of ani- 
mals, except the sheep, so variously serviceable to 
man, after its death, as the bear is to the Kamts- 
chadales. Of the skin, they make beds, covertures, 
caps, and gloves, and collars for their sledge-dogs. 
Those who go upon the ice for the capture of 
marine animals, make their shoe soles of the same 
substance, which thus never slip upon the ice. 
