The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-06-14 00:00:00

BEAR SIIOOTING.

The bear, though apparently an unwieldy animal, gets over
the ground faster than oue could suppose. I have had a pet
one for years, (reared from a cub) that follows me about, and
has often kept up with my horse when at a round canter.
This huge black bear, standing five feet high when upright, is
of the fair sex. The name to which she answers, "Mocaunse."*
Her qualities, mildness and docility.
She runs about the house like a dog, and is invited to the
drawing-room when any visitor arrives who wishes to make
her acquaintance—when my avocations led me to the woods in
distant parts of the province, Mocaunse was the companion of
my journey, and the nightly guardian of my tent—not a sound
or stir could be made, without a warning from her cautionary
whine, or growl.
It was amusing to observe with what gravity she took her
seat each morning at the opposite side of the mat, upon which
my breakfast was arranged, and the patience with which she
waited fur her share of the repast. In this •ardinal virtue she
failed but in one instance. One morning on the shore of Lake-
Huran, my party having stopped to prepare breakfast; whilst
my servant was getting ready mine, I plunged into the lake to
indulge in a bracing swim, and on returning with " encrease
of appetite," found Miss Mocaunse lying down perfectly at her
ease, having devoured every morsel of my breakfast—biscuit,
bread, sugar, &c. all eaten up, and the tea equipage, &c. &c., in
he most glorious confusion! ! Conceiving it necessary to im-
press strongly on her recollection my disapprobation of such
unladylike conduct, and to guard against the recurrence of a
similar disaster, I tied her to a plst, and bestowed on her hairy
sides so sound a drubbing, that, benefiting by this practical lec-
ture upon patience, Mocaunse has invariably waited breakfast
for me ever since.

Bears are not as numerous as they were on our first coming
to Canada, nor are they as troublesome, or as dangerous, as is
supposed.
They have been sometimes known to carry off a small pig;
but as to their attacking the human species, without being
grievously provoked, (though it may have occurred,) no in-
stance of it has came within my knowledge or experience.
They seem rather to avoid a conflict with man, but it assailed
and-injured by him, there can be no doubt that his danger
would be in proportion to their strength and power, which are
very great.
The manner of shooting bears is much the same as in the
case of deer, with the exception of using a heavier ball; and
that should you wound one badly without killing him, the
sooner you get up a tree, ton slight for him to climb, the better
for your own security.
The winter skin of the bear generally sells for six or seven
dollars, and is very useful in sleighs and as bedding.
The meat of a young bear is not unlike pork, but infinitely
better. I have frequently eaten it, and like it. In New York
it is considered a great delicacy, light, wholesome, and easily
digested. The interior fat, called Bear's Grease, is valuable for
the hair, more iu demand than in real existence in the shops.
I sent over some to ladies of my acquaintance, who, perceiving
that it was neither bleached nor scented, preferred-, as I am
told, the medicated hogslard of the perfumers. One fellow that
I shot produced me as much pomatum as would cover the ton-
sured heads of an entire monastery, with a pile of hair as thick
as a wig. I shall never, the longest day I live, forget the hour
I killed him. It was one of my earliest essays in this branch
of sporting.
A few weeks after we arrived at Toronto, my brother and I,
in walking through the woods with our rifles, observed several
pieces of bark While to the ground from an old pine of great
dimensions, and on looking up,. perceived an enormous bear
endeavouring to lodge himself in the hollow of the tree; after
some consideration, it was agreed that I should be the assailant,
my brother reserving his fire, lest mine should prove ineffectual.
With this counter security against the fraternal embrace of a
savage animal, dangerous when attacked, and furious when
wounded, I took the most deliberate aim, and fired; at the
moment came rolling to the ground, " with hideous yell," the
shaggy monster, writhing in agony.
We looked from him to each other—our resolve was rapid
as n ritual—we ran for our lives; whichever occasionally took
the lead, fancied the footsteps of the other those of the pursu-
ing bear • to our ear he seemed to close upon us. The rustling
of the underwood increasing our alarm, doubled our speed; and
it is difficult to say when we should have stopped, had we not
found ourselves up to the knees in a deepening swamp. From
hence we cast an anxious look behind, and not espying Bruin_,
plucked up our courage, and with my rifle reloaded, and both
cocked, began to retrace our stees with due and exemplary cau-
tion; about midway a black squirrel darted across; our imagi-
nations were so deeply occupied with terror of the bear, our
rifles were in a second at our shoulders, and I will not say
whether a little more would not have given us a second race.
We proceeded, however, yallantly towards the place where
my first shot had taken effect, and making our observations at
respectful distance, we remarked the bear at the foot of the same
old pine, when, my brother saying that he looked suspicious,
fired with a certain aim; he need not have been so particular,
as poor Bruin never winced, and had never moved from the
moment that his terrifying, but expiring roar had put us to
ignominious flight.
Alanv a weary tug it cost us to bring him to our house; where
the candid confession of our exploits excited no inconsiderable
fun and merriment.