Volume 1

GRIZZLY AND BLACK BEARS. 121
where I found the Indians awaiting my arrival. The fort
was finished, and all hands had been housed since the 15th
inst. I had been surprised this afternoon, when within a
few miles of my fort, to see the flag flying ; but my people
had mistaken the day of the week, supposing this to be
Sunday, and it was customary to hoist a flag on that day
at all our establishments in the North West. During my
absence the hunter had killed a large grizzly bear [Urstis
horribilis] about a mile from the fort. He had seen two
males and a female, but the latter escaped. My people
having cooked and eaten some of the flesh were taken very
ill, and most of them threw it up. This bear had been
wounded in the fore leg some time before by an arrow, the
iron head of which stuck fast in the bone, and was beginning
to rust. Grizzly bears are not numerous along Red
river, but more abundant in the Hair hills. At Lac du
Diable [Devil's lake], which is about 30 leagues W., they are
very common— I am told as common as the black bear
{^Ursiis americanus] is here, and very malicious.
Near that
lake runs a principal branch of Schian [Cheyenne river],
which is partially wooded. On the banks of this river I
am informed they are also very numerous, and seldom
molested by the hunters, it being the frontier of the Sioux,
where none can hunt in safety ; so there they breed and
multiply in security.
Oct. i8th. My sick man is still pale and emaciated ; he
can scarcely walk, and has entirely lost his appetite. The
Indians decamped, some for the mountain, others to hunt
beaver on Two Rivers ; none of them will consent to go
above. My hunter plagued me for a small keg of liquor,
having vowed, on killing the grizzly bear, that he would
make a feast of rum. This is a common custom among the
Saulteurs, when they kill any uncommon animal ; if liquor
cannot be got they use the best provisions they can procure,
but liquor is considered to have the greatest virtue
in appeasing the manes of the bear, and rendering thanks
to the Manitou. I was obliged to satisfy the fellow. He