COMMON BEAR, 
403 
Tlie fat of the bear is held in great estimation by 
ail the inhabitants of Kamtschatka, as a very 
savoy ry and wholesome nourishment ; and., when 
rendered fluid by melting, it supplies the place of 
oil. The flesh is esteemed a great delicacy. The 
intestines, when cleansed and properly scraped, are 
worn by the fair sex, as masks to preserve their 
faces from the effects of the sun-beams ; which here, 
being reflected from the snow, are generally found 
to blacken the skin, but by this means the Karats- 
chadale ladies preserve a fine complexion. The 
Russians of Kamtschatka make of these intestines 
window panes, which are as clear and transparent as 
those made of Muscovy glass. Of the shoulder 
blades are made sickles for cutting grass ; and 
the heads and hanches are hung up by these peo- 
ple, as ornaments or trophies, on the trees about 
their dwellings. 
The Kamtschadales also owe infinite obligations 
to the bears, for the little progress they have 
hitherto made, as well in the sciences, as even in 
the polite arts. They confess themselves indebted 
to these animals for all their knowledge of physic 
and surgery ; by observing what herbs the bears 
have applied to the wounds they have received, and 
what methods they have pursued when they were 
languid, and disordered, these people have acquir- 
ed a knowledge of most of those simples, which they 
have recourse to either as external or internal ap- 
plications. But the most singular circumstance 
of all is, that they admit the bears to be their 
dancing masters ; and, in what they call the bear 
dance, every gesture and attitude of that animal is 
go faithfully pourtrayed, as to afford sufficient indi- 
cations ta what they are indebted for this acquire- 
ment. They represent the bear’s sluggish and stu- 
pid gait, and its different feelings and situations ; 
as the young ones about the dam, the amorous 
