Volume 1

WOLVES—SKUNKS—RACCOONS—BEARS. 1 57
corner of the hole ; he soon dispatched him also. From
this the Indians all
predicted some great misfortune, either
to the person to whom the traps belonged, or to our fort.
Some supposed the Sioux would destroy us all. «
Nov. 2gth. Desmarais prepared for his departure with a
heavy heart, as he is fond of this place.
Sunday, Nov. joth. Men and Desmarais preparing
themselves. I intend to send two men with them. Some
went raccoon hunting, the weather being warm. They
returned in the evening with seven, which they had found
in one hollow tree. The size of this tree was enormous,
having a hollow six feet in diameter, the rim or shell being
two feet thick, including the bark. Raccoon hunting is
common here in the winter season. The hunter examines
every hollow tree met with, and when he sees the fresh
marks of the claws, he makes a hole with an ax, and thus
opens the hollow space, in which he lights a fire to find out
if there be any raccoons within, as they often climb
trees in the autumn, and, not finding them proper for
the purpose, leave them and seek others. But if they be
within, the smoke obliges them to ascend and put their
heads out of the hole they entered. On observing this, the
ax is applied to the tree ; with the assistance of the fire, it
is soon down, and the hunter stands ready to dispatch the
animals whilst they are stunned by the fall. But sometimes
they are so obstinate as to remain at the bottom of
the hole, until they are suffocated or roasted to death.
The bears, both grizzly and common black, which reside
on Red river, take to the hollow trees also, and are hunted
by the Indians in the same manner as raccoons. But the
the bears in the Hair hills, and other elevated places, never
take to the trees for their winter quarters. They reside in
holes in the ground, in the most intricate thicket
«
they can
find, generally under the roots of trees that have been torn
up by the wind, or have otherwise fallen. These are more
difficult to find, requiring good dogs that are naturally
given to hunt bears. The reason why the bears differ so