The north Iowa times. [volume] (M'Gregor [i.e. McGregor], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1856-11-21
MISCELLANEOUS.
A NIGHT-HUNT IN SIBERIA.
PERILOUS ADVENTURE.


The Creator has everywhere provided
for the wants of his creatures. The ter
rible cold of Siberia and the polar regions
would render life insupportable by ma,
and beast, without some special provis
ion. The Siberian bear seems to be
peculiar species of that animal. He is
head taller than the common brown bear
is long legged and long necked, heavier
and more ferocious. The Siberian bear
too, unlike other bruins, is not fond o
honey. Vegetable food is rare with him
he lives, like beast of prey, on the fesf
of other animals. His skin is hairy, anc
of brown color outside, while the inner
part has a very soft, thick, fine WOOL
Even the soles of the feet are covered
with hair. The animal has, consequent
ly, a noiseless step, and, were he not sc
lazy, might glide securely upon his prey
Happily, he adopts another mode Of at
tack. He ascends one of the great pines
lies quiet among the thick branches, and
then suddenly falls like ball from his
hiding-place among the stray hares. rein.
deer, or elks. He often fasts for long
time, SO that he is capable of devouring a
middling sized deer at one sitting, leaving
nothing but the skin, which he entirely
clears out. Exiles affirm that they have
observed him at such meal, and that he
has been noticed to continue eating inces-
sanity for seven hours. Upon man he
rushes with stupid obstinasy, and will
not shrink from encountering even a su-
perior number of opponents. His sight
and hearing seem feeble, but his scent is
very keen. Strong as he is, however, a
sharp blow on the middle of the nose will
often kill him. He rests in winter, like
all his species, but he does not sleep so
uninterruptedly as the common brown
bear, nor does he suck his paws, but sim
ply rolls himself up like ball and sticks
his head between his legs. In this posi-
ton he is often covered under deep bed
of snow in the thicket, so that his presence
is not discernable. Woe, however, to
the unfortunate being who shall awaken
or disturb him; the bear is swiftly upon
him to knock him down with his dread
tul paws, or TO grasp him and tear him.
Five exiles in Siberia, named Galiow,
Stroganow, Lominer, Romauow, aud Sa-
jew, had been greatly annoyed by the nu-
m:rous wolves which nightly visited the
neighborhood of their isolated residences,
and rendered outdoor life extremely in
secure. They therefore determined to
make a foray upon their fierce adversa-
ries, and teach them lesson of caution.
They made hunting pouches of wolf skins,
suspended their loaded rifles, provided
themselves with powder and shot, put up
some rancid fat and putrid flesh as bait for
the wolves, and set out on IA hunt in a
rocky valley pretty free from wood, tho
a few large trees were scattered about
This valley was situated about three miles
from their hut; and when they reached
it they saw numbers of both wolves and
bears. In the thickets lay multitude Of
hare and elk bones, most of which were
picked clean, many, too, being half eaten,
a proof that the beasts by no means found
plentiful proyender.
BY Stroganow's advice his comrades
fixed posts deep in the frozen snow, and
having covered their tops with snow,
placed the bats thereon, and seated them
selves in couples on the branches of the
trees, from whence they could shoot their
deadly balls. These preparations took
up the rest of the day, and Stroganow, to
whom the direction of the proceedings
was chiefly entrusted, stationed himself
among the branches of dark pine, about
twelve feet above the place where the
bait was placed.
The sun set, and darkness soon sue
ceeded, so that the hunters could scarce
ly distinguish one another. The rising
moon indeed gave its friendly light, but,
like the sun in those attitudes, its oblique
position did not allow its beams to pene-
trate the thick darkness of the forest. 1t
was easy, however, to see what was pass
ing on the ground, because the moon re-
flected every object in the pure snow, and
thus marked j. out distinctly.
The last light of day had scarcely dis
appeared, when wolf set up his friyhtful
resounding howl on the top of the hill
Those who have only seen this animal in
menagerie can form no idea of the hor-
rid music which herd of fifty or sixty
such monsters make, when they traverse
the woods for prey. The howl of the
wolf much resembles the howl of large
dog; but it is stronger more vehement,
and sounds most terrible when the beast
IS enraged. AS the wolf treads heavily
with his fore feet, the hind ones trail after
softly, giving rise to the erroneous sup
position that he is lame. This heavy step
makes his lungs tremblc, thus making his
howl sound like roaring bark. When
he is hungry, he licks himself angrily with
his tongue, and throws his head back to
scent his prey from afar. This also gives
varied expression to the tones produced.
When the eldest wolf begins. the next in
'ge gradually collect around him, thus
strengthening The chorus as it continues.
The howing lasts till sufficient number
Ire assembled to begin the chase, when
.hey go TO work with a consideration for
which one would not have given them
credit. One division keeps in the back
ground in silence, while the rest march
n broad line through the wood, rouse
he game, drive the animals with GREAT