More Bear Stories
"THOUGH the Zitz-Zaows, as has already been stated,
were famed for their ability and skill as hunters, yet
it is doubtful whether they surpassed the Nishkas in
this respect. The introduction of the repeating-rifle and
the breech-loading shot-gun has been of great advantage to
the Indian hunters. In one season of about six weeks I have
known our hunters to bring in some seven hundred and fifty
bear skins.
Reckoning at even a lower rate for the other encampments
on the Nass River, there could not have been less than two
thousand bears captured in the one short season. This they
never could have accomplished with the old muzzle-loading
weapons. In addition there are fewer accidents now to the
hunters. Under the old regime, often the hunters were
seriously injured, and sometimes killed, in their encounters
with bears. Many of the older men bear the marks of these
encounters. Here is one who always wears his hat on one
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THE NISHKA INDIANS AS HUNTERS
side of his head. His object is to conceal his ear, which has
almost entirely been torn off by a bear which he had wounded.
Here is another who was formerly very clever as a carver in
both wood and metal. But a bear bit his thumb off and
otherwise injured his hand, so that he can no longer exhibit
his handiwork.
Many exciting tales of encounters with the denizens of the
forest might be recorded, but the following, as related and
described to me by the hunter himself, is, I consider, the
most wonderful. He was visiting me one afternoon in
February during a severe cold spell, and as I had a good fire
burning to keep out the cold, my friend Gwaksho, who was
a chief, drew near and permitted his fur robe to drop lower
on his shoulders in order to enjoy the heat. As he did so I
remarked that his shoulders and arms were covered with
scars. I suspected that these had been caused by the
medicine men of his tribe while he was yet a heathen, as one
band of the craft known as the flesh-tearers were accustomed
to rush around the camps howling like wolves, and would bite
and tear the flesh off the shoulders and arms of those whom
they might meet.
In answer to my inquiries as to how he had received such
wounds, he informed me that they had been inflicted on him
in a life and death struggle which he had with a bear some
years previously. He had gone into the forest in search of
a suitable red cedar tree from which to construct a canoe,
and was accompanied by his son, then a boy of about seven
years, when suddenly on crossing a large fallen tree he found
himself face to face with a grizzly bear. He had left his
gun leaning against a tree on disembarking from his canoe,
and consequently had nothing with him but his hunting-
knife. This, however, he had not time to draw, as, being at
close quarters, the bear sprang upon him instantly.
As quickly, the hunter threw both his arms and legs around
the bear s neck and shoulders, and pressing his head up
closely under the bear s lower jaw, commenced to worry it
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THE NISHKA INDIANS AS HUNTERS
with his teeth. His object was to endeavour to sever the
bear s throat. He had good teeth, as all the Indians had
formerly, prior to the introduction of the white man s bill of
fare. The bear tried hard to dislodge the hunter and shake
him off, and it was then that he succeeded in inflicting the
numerous wounds, the scars from which had attracted
my notice. The hunter was eager to draw his knife, but
dare not relax his hold, as it would have given Bruin an
advantage. At length he succeeded in severing the main
artery and the wind-pipe, and was bathed in blood both
from his own wounds and that of the bear. His little boy
could not help, as, alas, he had no weapon.
With the artery severed the bear quickly weakened from
loss of blood, and at length tumbled over, and at the same
instant the hunter fainted. But only for a moment, as
reviving again he called to his son for water. Pulling a
large leaf of the skunk or bear cabbage (Symplocarpw
fcetidus\ he ran to a stream near by, and, filling it, hastened
to return to his father. He drank eagerly, and directed
his son to wash the blood from his face and eyes with the
water remaining. With the aid of his son he was enabled
to drag himself free from the bear, which was quite dead.
More water was brought to wash and staunch the flow of
blood, and leaves applied to the wounds.
Lacerated though he was, he was enabled with the aid
of his son to reach the canoe, in which they drifted a few
miles further down to another encampment of the tribe,
when more effective help was rendered. Several weeks
elapsed before he was able to get about again, but being
of a strong constitution he was soon able to engage in
the bear-hunt once more, but never left his gun behind
again. He had preserved the fangs of the bear, which he
presented to me. "
