IX.
THE GREAT GRIZZLY BEAR.

(Ursus Ferox.)

“The Indians have unbounded reverence for this
bear. When they kill one, they make exculpating
speeches to it, smoke tobacco to it, call it grand-
father, ancestor, etc.”

P. Martin Dunoan, M. B., F. R. 5., F. G. 8.

; Kings College, London.

The Indians with whom I once lived in
the Californian Sierras held the grizzly
bear in great respect and veneration. Some
writers have said that this was because
they were afraid of this terrible king of
beasts. But this is not true. The Indian,
notwithstanding his almost useless bow
and arrow in battles with this monster,
was not controlled by fear. He venerated
the grizzly bear as his paternal ancestor.
And here I briefly set down the Modoc and
Mount Shasta Indians’ account of their

own creation.
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