B
THE DEATH OF THE BEAR. 1 0 9
T h e s e mci-cilcss l)nile8 are not always contení with laying wail for such »
may, by chance, deviate from the path of safely towa rds their haunts ; ihcy hav,
been known to dash out from covers, both single and in numbers, to attack
passengers ! Nature certainly never meant so strange a form to bo occupied ni
motions of celerity, at least it must appear thai bears are not calculated to
p u r s u e . As to escaping luto trees, that would be a poor evasion ; for the bear
climbs with astonishing ease, and seems quite at homo on such occasions. I lie
natives do not scrapie to assert that when the mangos are ripe, the bears may
sometimes be seen to climb into the trees, and shake them so as to cause
t h e fruit to drop. Of this, however, I must beg leave to express my doubts;
as also regarding Esop's celebrated story of the bear not being able to
distinguish a dead from a living subject: at leasl I should be very loth to
lake my chance, under the circumstances detailed in the fable, with a
modern Bengal bear, for wbosc sense of discrimination 1 entertain the most
p r o f o u n d respect.
Among tbc many anecdotes related on the topic before us, the following,
w h i c h I believe to be true, having heard it as authentic from many most resp
c c l a b l c autborlties, is perhaps aswiiimsical as any that could be adduced.
A gentleman who was proceeding post to Mldnaporc, found \út palankeen
s u d d e n l y pul down, or rather dropped, without much ceremony or regard to
its contents, by the bearers, who as abruptly took to their heels in various
directions. On putting his bead out, to ascertain the cause of so unpleasant a
circumstance, the gentleman discovered a half-grown bear smelling about tiie
machine. Bruin no sooner saw the traveller, than lie boldly entered atone
side, and, as ihe palanhem was of ihe old fashion, with an highly arched
bamboo, he could not be opposed. The gentleman thought It necessary to relinr|
ulsli his situation in favour of his shaggy visilor, wbo with as little ceremony
as be had entered passed througb, following the gentleman, ^v¡th some very
auspicious hints; such as barking and champing of the teeth. After some
mniucuvrcs on both sides, a close action commenced, in which cither parly at
limes might claim the victory.
T h e bearers had collected themselves on a liigli spot, whence they could have
a n excellent " birds'-eye view" of the battle; but whether from iirntlence, or
impelled hy curiosity to ascertain what would be the result of an engagement
b e t w e e n an English genllcman and a Bengal bear, all kept aloof from the conib
a l a n l s . As llie chances varied, so did the bearers c.vprcss tbcir approbalion ;
api>lauding each as he seemed by his superiority lo merit ihelr plaudits. When
the gculleman chanced to have iho upper hand, they cliecred biiii with
" mv>lmsl, mhch" i. c. well done, master; and when the bear became lord of
the ascendancy, ihcy paid thejus l tribute to hi s exertions wi t h savbash bmiloo,"
i. c. well done, Mr. Boar. No>v and llicn an Interjcclory vimi! coiicx|)rcs8lvc
of the highest a.lmiration, was ultcrcil with no small emphasis, indiscriuiinalcly
as it might injustice he merited by cilher parly.
F o r t u n a t e l y the genlleuian succeeded, and afler receiving many desperate
wounds throttled the bear. When the contest was over, the bearers returned,
and after overwhelming iheir master with eompliments, bore him on his journey.
On ihcir arrival at the next stage, ihe bearers were all lalien into custody, and
the magistrate, according lo Lhe laudable custom prevulciil in India, wliere
oilenccs are jmiiislied willioul very iiiccly examining ihc cxact spot, and iiour
of jK-rpelralion, Ix'slowcd on cacii of lhe crilics a hearly cliaslisemciit in the
marlcel [)lac(j; wliile ihc ap[)hiu<liiig crowd of spectators did not fad, al «-acli
t u r n of lhe inslrnnieiil, to repeal " mtshiisk saheb;" anil when pain induced the
c u l p r i t s to wrillie. in hopes to evade the whip, others would ironically exclaim,
" suiabash bauluo."
T o the best of my informallon the gentleman Is yet living, and occasionally
amuses tI)ose who, lieing strangers, are curious lo know the cause of his countenance
being so <Hsfigured, with the recital of his close intimacy with brother
b r u i n .
I cannot refrain from again remarking, how strange it is that persons who
have resided for many years in Bengal, should doubt that bears are natives of
lhat country ; Many of the eastern and western provinces arc infested with them
ciiually as much as will) tigers. To the east of the Ganges and Megtia ihey arcvery
numerous; anil on lhe western frontier, Rogonantporc may he considered
iheir ])rincipal station, in marching through thai country 1 scarcely ever
missed sceinn- one or more daily, williouL deviating from the high road. Once,
in particular, oui" camp-colour-nieii, \vho arrived some hours before lhe line,
to mark out the ground for our new encampment, could scarcely u[)proaeh a
bush, lest a bear shoul<l dispute possession of the premises. Travelling in my
palankeen on the new road, from Chemar lo Calculla, I was frcf[nently slopj)ed,
and once, like the gentleman in the foregoing anecdote, was set down by my
bearers, on account of bears that cilher crossed the way, or were seen so near
ihc road side as lo occasion much alarm. It was in the monlh of June, when
all the pools in the country were nearly exhausted ; and the greater part of the
bears we discovered were either near to small streams, or appeared nnnldy, a^
1 h o u g h they liad been wallowing in the mire from whicii the waters had been
c.-ihalcd.
The jugglers occasionally have bears and goats as well as monkeys; the
former are tancht lo dance, and Lo understand various phrases, to which ihey
make a])propriale signs of dissent or approbation, as may suit the occasion.
Many are very adroi t in making a salaam, or obeisance, and shew more docility
t h a n one would suppose such an heavy animal could posses.s. Amidst all their
acipiiesence lo the master's will, however, they often betray their natural di.sposition,
and resist every attempt lo bring them to subordination.
T h e i r tutors sometimes wrestle wi l h them, but this is a mere piece of ir
and ill supports the pretended diilieully which a man has in overcoming a bear.