Journal of a Tour in Unsettled Parts of North America in 1796 & 1797

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1856. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... which the bears fly to: in fact, no others of a smaller size could contain them at the height of sixty or seventy feet from the ground. We saw evident traces of his claws impressed on the bark of the tree, and it was soon resolved that the tree was to come down. Accordingly our two men set at it, and when they had nearly got through it, we took our appointed stations to watch the egress of this tyrant of the woods. In a short time the immense trunk began to give way, and, carrying all the lesser trees before it, fell with a tremendous crash upon the ground. Bruin, finding his habitation in motion, began to look out before it reached the ground, and with a sudden spring arrived there first. Immediately Dr. Bean levelled his piece, and shot him through the body, but only so as to wound him, and the bear began to turn upon him; when, at a lucky moment, a limb of the tree fell upon the stump of his tail, and left him struggling to get free. This afforded me time to come round to Dr. Bean's assistance, when I shot the poor animal through the head, and put a period to his existence. After that we left him to the men to carry to our camp, whilst we went to discover the haunts of some others; and in this expedition we killed two or three deer, and saw great quantities of wild turkeys; so that we had not any prospect of extreme want whilst we were here. After this we returned home, and received the thanks of our party for supplying them so sumptuously with provisions. This diversion I pursued as often as the weather favoured, almost every day I was here. Sometimes I would wander out by myself for several miles in the country, and not return again till the setting sun would close the day. I had by this time acquired the habit of wandering out in p the woods, and impercep...