242 
BEAR. 
trance of the hut, but through a hole in another 
part. The feast being finished, the bones are 
buried with great solemnity, every bone being 
placed in its proper situation, from a firm persuasion 
that the bear will be restored, and reanimate a new 
body. 
The flesh of a young bear, fattened with the au- 
tumnal fruits, is allowed by all who have tasted it 
to be very delicious food. It is both wholesome 
and nourishing, and resembles pork more than any 
other meat. Mr. Pennant says, the tongue and 
the paws are esteemed the most exquisite morsels; 
the hams are also excellent, but apt to rust if not 
well preserved. 
The bear is a valuable creature to the inhabitants 
of high latitudes ; they not only feed upon his 
flesh, and sell his fat, but use his skin for beds and 
for coverlets, for bonnets, for gloves, for collars for 
their dogs, and soles for their shoes. The shoulder 
blades are formed into instruments to cut the grass, 
and they cover their faces with the intestines to 
protect them from the sun. 
THE POLAR BEAR. 
The white or polar bear is found within the 
whole polar circle of Europe and Asia, and in Ame- 
rica as low as Hudson’s Bay and Labrador. He 
