multitude of Bees, the Hives at home will not contain them, the Inhabitants willingly let them fly unto hollow Trees, made so by Nature, or by Art, that they may increase there. Wherefore mortal stratagems are thus prepared for Bears, that use to steal honey (for they having a most weak head, as a Lion hath the strongest, for sometimes they will be killed with a blow under their ear); namely a Woodden Club set round with Iron points is hung over the hole the Bees come forth of, from some high bough, or otherwise; and this, being cast upon the head of the greedy Bear that is going to steal the honey, kills him striving against it; so he loseth his life, flesh, and skin to the Master, for a little honey. Their flesh is salted up like Hog’s flesh, Stag’s flesh, Elk’s, or Ranged deer’s flesh, to eat in Camps, and the Tallow of them is good to cure any wounds.”
Every one of my readers, who is not a Scotsman, will appreciate the delicate musical taste of the bear, in the matter of bagpipes—Bruin cannot stand the skirling, and, in the illustration, seems to be remonstrating with the piper.
“It is well enough known that Bears, Dolphins, Stags, Sheep, Calves and Lambs, are much delighted with Musick: and, again, they are to be driven from their Heards by some harsh sounding Pipes, or Horns, that when they hear the sound they will be gone into the Woods, a great way off. Now the Shepheards of the Cattel know this well enough: they will play upon their two horned Pipes continually, which sometimes are taken away by Bears, until such time as the Bear is forced by Hunger to go away to get his food. Wherefore they take a Goat’s Horn, and sometimes a Cow’s Horn, and make such a horrid noise, that they scare the wild beasts, and so return safe to their dispersed flocks. This two horned Pipe, which in their tongue they call Seec-Pipe, they carry to the fields with them, for they have learned by use, that their Flocks and Heards will feed the better and closer together.
“The Russians and Lithuanians are more near to the Swedes and Goths on the Eastern parts: and these hold it a singular delight, to have always the most cruel
Beasts bred up tame with them, and made obedient to their commands in all things. Wherefore to do this the Sooner, they keep them in Caves, or tyed with Chains, chiefly Bears newly taken in the Woods, and half starve them; and they appoint one or two Masters, cloathed one like the other, to carry Victuals to them, that they may be accustomed to play with them, and handle them when they are loose. Also they play on Pipes sweetly, and with this they are much taken: and thus they use them to sport and dance, and then, when the Pipes sound differently, they are taught to lift up their legs, as by a more sharp sign, to end the Dance with, that they may go on their hinder feet, with a Cap in their fore feet, held out to the Women and Maids, and others that saw them dance, and ask a reward for their dancing; and, if it is not given freely, they will murmure, as they are directed by their Master, and will nod their heads, as desiring them to give more money: So the Master of these Bears, that cannot speak the language of other countries, will get a good gain by his dumb Beast. Nor doth this seem to be done onely because that these should live by this small gain; for the Bearherds that lead these Bears, are, at least, ten or twelve lusty men; and in their company, sometimes, there go Noblemen’s sons, that they may learn the manners, fashions, and distances of places, the Military Arts, and Concord of Princes, by these merry Pastimes. But since they were found, in Germany, to spoil Travellers, and to cast them to their Bears to eat, most strict Laws are made against them, that they may never come there again.
“There is another Sport, when Bears taken, are put into a Ship, and shew merry pastimes in going up and down the Ropes, and sometimes are profitable for some
unexpected accident. For Histories of the Provincials mention, that it hapned, that one was thus freed from a Pirate that was like to set upon him; for the Pirate coming on, was frighted at it, when he saw afar off, men, as he supposed, going up and down the Ropes, from the Top Mast, as the manner is to defend the Ship. Whereas they were but young Bears, playing on the Ropes. But the most pleasant sight of all is, that when the Bears look out of the Ship into the Waters, a great number of Sea Calves will come and gaze upon them, that you would think an innumerable Company of Hogs swam about the Ship, and they are caught by the Sea men with long Spears, with Hooks, and a Cord tyed to them; and so are also the other Beasts, that come to help the Sea Calves, taken, and crying like to Hogs. Also the Bears are let down to swim, that they may catch these wandering Sea-Calves, or else, when it thunders, and the weather is tempestuous, they be taken above Water.
