Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-03-04
A Grizzly Bear Hunt.

II bVui Duhts
The everyday sports of the wild woods
include many feats Of daring that never
find pen Of record. Constantly, in the
haunts Of the savage, are enaciing scenes
oithrling nteresi,the very details Of which
would make the denizens of enlightened
lite turn away with instructive dread.-
Every Indian tribe has its heroes, cele-
brated respectively for their courage in
different ways exhibited. Some for their
acuteness in pursuing the enemy on the
war-path, and others for the destruction
they have accomplished among the wild
beasts of the forest A great hunter a.
mong the Indians is marked parsonage
II is title that distinguishes its possessor
among his people as prince; while the
exploits in which he has been engaged
hang about his person as brilliantly as the
decorations OF SO many orders. The
country in which the Usage finds home
possesses abundantly the grizzly bear, an
animal formidable beyond any other in
habilant of the North American forests:
an animal seemingly insensible to pain,
uncertain in its habits, and by its mighty
strength able to overcome any living OBJ
stacle that comes within its reach, as an
enemy. The Indian warrior, of any tribe,
among the haunts of the grizzly bear,
finds no necklace so honorable 10 be worn
as The claws OF this gigantic animal, if he
lallby his own proves; and if he can add
an eagles plume to his scalp-lock, pucked
from bird shot while on the wing, he is
honorable indeed. The Indians "smoke,"
like the ire-side OF the white man, is Of
ten the place where groups of people as
semble to relate whatever may most
pleasantly while away the hours Of long
evening, or destroy the monotony Of dull
and idle day. On such occasions, the old
"braye' will sometimes relax from bis ma
tural gravity, and grow loquacious over his
chequered life. But no recital commands
such undivided attention as the adventures
with the grizzly bear; and the death of
an enemy on the war-poth hardly vies
with II IN interest.
nc grizzly bears, like the tiger and IL
on, have their caves in which thew live |
but they use them principally as a safe
lodging,p when the cold Of winter
renders them torpid and disposedto sleep. |
10 these caves they retire late in the fall, |
and they seldom venture out ill the
warmth of spring. Sometimes two Occur
Ply one cave, but this is not often the case,
as the unsociabiiIv of the animal is pro,
verbal they preferring to be solitary and
alone. A knowledge OF the forests. and an |
occasional trailing for bear, inform the
hunter Of these caves, and the only habit
Of the grizzly bear that can with certainty
be taken advantage Of, is that Of his be.
ing IN his cave alive, if at proper season.
And the hunter has the terrible liberty of
entering bis cave single. handed, and there
destroying him. OF this only method of
hunting the grizzly bear we would at
tempt description.
The thought Of entering cave, inhabit-
ed BY one of the most powerful beasts Of
prey, IS calculated TO try the strength of
ne best nerve; and when il is considered
take. NAV cause and nrobahIv w;ll rasmI,
in tho instant death Of he hun,er !, "a
hinIy exhibits tbe highest dsmons,rs,;an
Of physical courage 10 nursue snch = No
thod If huntino YET tbore are NAM
persons in the forests ,f Nortb Amer;cs
who ensaoe in such neriIous adven,,res
with no otber chico, IL y;ew ,hnn ,he
sport, or hearty meal The hun,er,s
Preparations n q hard Tho III, Il ~
den." commence w,,h ox.rn;n;na ~
mouth Of he cave he i about u enter