The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-02-24
BEAR HUNTIN G.
IN HUNGARY AND BOHEMIA.

IN HUNGARY AND BOHEMIA.
In the more remote and less cultivated
districts of Hungary and Bohemia, the brown
or black bear is in winter the terror of the
shepherds; and hunting him is almost as ia
vorte pastme with the people in these
countries, as bul-fghting with the inhabit-
ants of Portugal or Spain. 1t is early III the
Spring that TIE bears generally dc most mis-
chief, when the hard frost has Strengthened
them for several weeks of their forest prey;
they then make "'riads," by broad daylight,
into the hamlets and villages; and it is not at
all uncommon for a peasant, returning from
his abour in the fields, to find furred and
whiskered maurauder in possession OF his
hut, and ransacking it from the meal chest
to the corner cupboard, in quest OF provis-
ion. If tracked with hounds, which is easy
at this season, because his footsteps in the
snow betray him, the bear retreats, but by no
means in disorder, or with any especial &C.
lerty, stopping now and then to discuss any
over troublesome assailant, which he does
with as much GOODNESS and method as poul-
tercr would truss chicken; when pressed
with fire arms or in danger from numbers.
he rolls himself over at hazard among the
rocks and precipces; and unless the first
bullet which strikes him should be mortal,
there is an end OF the chase generally for
that day. In the summer, however, when
4 the bear is less ferocious, there are two
modes (without either dog or fire arms) OF
hunting them, both of which are sufficiently
divertng, and both require great bodily ac-
tivity, joined to courage and presence OF
mind. At this time the animal feeds great
deal upon grain and vegetable, and
is frequently seen iii wood paths, and even
open roads; If you stand aside, and give
the pass in these encounters, he seldom mo-
Iaets luti 1a1 nff, ad he
aggressor has work enough upon his hands.
For the chase the villagers go out in parties
of or A together, each man armed with
small axe, made in the manner nearly OF the
American tomahawk; and the first work is
to beat the places where a bear is to be found
or to lay bait for him, consisting Of dead
sheep, near which they wait until he is at
tractcd by the smell. When Bruin appears,
the hunter who is to make the attack (having
graphing hooks fitted to his knees, in order
TO cline more easAy,) advances boldly with
in fifty or sixty yards, and commences the
quarrel by throwing stone, this done, he
makes for tree which he has selected, and
then according to an agreement with his COM
panions, the affair becomes a tragedy, or is
to terminate as farce. AS soon as the bear
finds himself struck, he starts at small trot,
in pursuit of his molester seldom offering to
NEEDLE with any one else unless his venge-
ance is nterferred with; and when he reach
: es the tree, he straightway begins to ascend,
with as much expedition as his habitual gra-
!, witty of movement will permit. This is the
) moment, if the game is to die, at which the
forester begins to bestir himself. Seated a.
), mongst the lower and strongest branches of
the tree, he rapidly cuts away with his axe
any small twigs which might impede the full
sweep and play of his arm; then taking a
firm hold with his lett hand twisted in the
boughs, with his weapon i'll the right, he
awaits the approach OF the enemy. The
bear, by the hold of his strong claws, climbs
slowly up the funk of the tree; but these
dig SO deep sometimes into the bark, that
he finds it difficult to draw them out again.
This gives the man full time, who waits
steadily till the foremost fore paw comes
within his reach, when, with one vigorous
blow of the axe, he either strikes it off or mu-
tilates it SO as to stop all chance of further
progress The position here for striking is
so favorable, and habit makes the hunters so
expert, that many of them in twenty blows
would not miss once dividing the paw, bone
and all entirely; but whether this be done or
not, the stroke is usually fatal to the animal,
who falls to the ground, and is despatched
while still stunned with the force of his de-
scent. Sometimes he remains clinging with
his secohd paw to the tree; but in that case,
the second paw is Immediately cut off like
wise, when of necessity he rolls over back
wards, and remains at the mercy OF the hunt
ers.
:. In the second m amer or summer hunting
the bear frequently does not die; and it is
followed by the shepherds, with no other
arms than their crooks, reinforced, perhaps
by few dge-stakes or an occasional vol
lev of stones. For the purpose of this chase,
when the beast approaches flock of sheep,
it's keepers Immediately face him; and one,
having commenced hostilities by throwing
| his stone, takes to his spot of security, the
tree; this time, however, instead of using
the axe, he merely gets astride upon the lar
gest and lowest bough that he Can find, and
in that posture awaits the combat, which be-
comes highly ludicrous and entertaining.
The bear, climbing up the trunk of the tree
by the help OF his claws, arrives easily enough
at the branch in which the hunter sits, but
!, by this time the latter has retired couple
of yards from the stem; and, when it be-
: comes necessary to walk along to get at him
, instead of climbing, the matter changes
: something of position. If the Dough is large
! the pursuer commonly GETS uDOn it. and adj