He Rather
Attacks Than Avoids A Man, And Such Is The Terror Which He Has Inspired,
That The Indians Who
Go in quest of him paint themselves and perform all
the superstitious rites customary when they make war on a
Neighboring nation.
Hitherto, those bears we had seen did not appear desirous of encountering us;
but although to a skilful rifleman the danger is very much diminished,
yet the white bear is still a terrible animal. On approaching these two,
both Captain Lewis and the hunter fired, and each wounded a bear.
One of them made his escape; the other turned upon Captain Lewis and pursued
him seventy or eighty yards, but being badly wounded the bear could not
run so fast as to prevent him from reloading his piece, which be again
aimed at him, and a third shot from the hunter brought him to the ground.
He was a male, not quite full grown, and weighed about three hundred pounds.
The legs are somewhat longer than those of the black bear, and the talons
and tusks much larger and longer. Its color is a yellowish-brown;
the eyes are small, black, and piercing; the front of the fore legs near
the feet is usually black, and the fur is finer, thicker, and deeper
than that of the black bear. Add to which, it is a more furious animal,
and very remarkable for the wounds which it will bear without dying."
Next day, the hunter killed the largest elk which they had ever seen.
It stood five feet three inches high from hoof to shoulder.
Antelopes were also numerous, but lean, and not very good for food.
Of the antelope the journal says:
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