THROUGH FINLAND. 
289 
from his cavern. The moment he fees the peafant, he rears him- 
felf upon his two hind legs ready to tear him to pieces. The Fin¬ 
lander indantly puts himfelf in the attitude which is reprefentcd 
in the annexed plate ; that is to fay, he brings back the iron lance 
clofe to his bread:, concealing from the bear the length of the 
pole, in order that he may not have time to be upon his guard, 
and confequently to parry with his paws the mortal blow which 
the hunter means to aim at his vitals. The Finlander then ad¬ 
vances boldly towards the bear, nor does he {trike the blow till 
they are fo near each other, that the animal dretches out his paws 
to tear his antagonifl limb from limb. At that indant the pea- 
fant pierces his heart with the lance, which, but for the crofs-bar, 
would come out at his fhoulder; nor could he otherwife prevent 
the bear from falling upon him, an accident which might be 
highly dangerous. By means of the crofs-bar the animal is kept 
upright, and ultimately thrown upon his back ; but what may 
feem to fome very extraordinary, is, the bear, feeling himfelf 
wounded, inftead of attempting with his paws to pull out the 
lance, holds it fad, and prefles it more deeply into the wound. 
When the bear, after rolling upon the {now, ceafes from the lad 
druggies of death, the Finlander lays hold of him, and calls for 
the adidance of his friends, who drag the carcafe to his hut; and 
this triumph terminates in a fort of fedival, where the poet aflids, 
and lings the exploits of the hunter. 
The Finlanders are employed in dimmer in cutting down their 
hay and corn ; the lad they threfli out in winter ; they build their 
Vol. I. P p boats. 
