BITTEN BY A BEAR
HUNTING ADVENTURES IN INDIA

BITTEN BY A BEAR

We moved northward and encamped at a spot indicated by Himta as being a favorite resort of bears. He had preceded us with several Bheels of the district, and was absent when we reached the ground. Late in the day he sent a man into camp with intelligence of two bears marked down at a spot about three miles from the tents. Attacked by a bear We were soon on the road, and were led by our guide to a hill-face, sloping down towards a small river. Here we found Himta and his men seated in trees commanding a view of some long dry grass on the banks of a small water- course running down the hill-side. Among the grass grew trees and bushes. The markers were unable to point out the precise spot where the bears had lain up, and it was therefore settled that Hunt should take up a position on the face of the hill above them, while I with three men advanced into the grass. We were to proceed quietly, and, if possible, get a shot at them before they moved. If we startled them by our approach, we calculated on my driving them up to Hunt, who went off to his post, accompanied by his two gun-bearers. Having allowed sufficient time to elapse, I advanced into the grass with great caution, closely followed by Bappoo, Buggoo Sing, jemadar of police, and Himta, the two former carrying my spare rifles. As I was carefully endeavoring to avoid treading on the dry sticks, I came on a covey of the small bustard quail. These birds are generally found in the tree jungles, and sit in the grass closely packed together, rising simultaneously, with much noise, when disturbed. I had almost stepped on them before they rose; and as they flew up into my face I was a good deal startled. I had hardly settled my nerves when I saw the male bear about thirty paces in front of me, making off at speed towards the right. I fired at once, but the smoke came back on me; and, as it cleared away, I saw the other bear, not ten yards off, going away after the first. I let drive with the second barrel, on which she wheeled round and came straight at me, grunting viciously. I had no time to turn to get a second rifle before she was on me. Rising on her hind legs, she attempted to seize me by the throat in her teeth; and, as I fended her off with my left arm, she got it in her mouth, and crunched it up like a cucumber. Meanwhile, she was not idle with her formidable claws, with which she tore open my clothes, and gave me an ugly score across the ribs. At that moment Bappoo rushed in and shot her through the body. She dropped on all fours, but retained her hold on my hand with her teeth, tugging furiously to get me down. As we struggled, a young bear which she carried on her back, and which had been struck by my shot, fell dead at our feet ; and the old lady's temper evidently not improved by the bereavement. Bappoo behaved admirably. He again rushed to the front, and, raising his rifle. watched his opportunity for another shot I called to him not to blow my hand off; and at that instant he fired, and the bear relaxed her grip, and fell back with a ragged hole through her head. All this was the work of a few seconds. I had now time to examine my hurts. My left wrist was nearly bitten through, both bones were smashed, and the hand twisted round. I was, moreover, cut across the ribs by the bear's claws. Holding up the wounded limb in a hanging position, I turned the hand round into its place, and supported it on the other arm, till Hunt, who had now come up, had cut some slips of bamboo, and bound the whole up with a turban. I was astonished at the utter absence of pain, for the wound was gruesome to behold. The rage of the bear had evidently been kindled by her offspring being wounded. They generally bring out their young in some cave, or mass of rocks; and, as soon as they can run about, the young bears travel over the country on the backs of their mothers, burying themselves in the long hair, to which they cling with great tenacity, holding their position at any speed, and over the roughest ground. While feeding or undisturbed they descend and run about, scrambling up again with great celerity on the least alarm. Had I pounded the bear on the head with my rifle as she came on, I might have turned her ; but the rifle was a new Sam Smith, and I suppose I was afraid of smashing it. I had reason to be thankful to Bappoo for his cool and plucky conduct, as, with her murdered offspring lying between us, the bear would not have been easily driven off, and would probably have killed me. Mounting the elephant, which had been brought out with us, we went back to the tent, and I remarked to the jemadar that I feared I should not require his assistance in bear-shooting for some time to come. was I had in my camp a native dresser from the dispensary at Matinpore, and by him my wound was artistically bound tip. Both bones of the arm were smashed ; the ulna was broken about one inch from the joint, and the ends protruded. The radius was also broken. I had, on the third finger of my left hand, a ring which had not been off for many years, and could not be removed. Knowing that my hand would probably swell up, I lost no time in filing this off. Meanwhile, food had been got ready; and, after partaking of refreshment, I mounted on a litter, borne on men's shoulders, and set off for Mundlaisir, distant thirty miles, hoping there to obtain good surgical treatment. A horseman was sent off before me, with a note to Colonel Keatinge, the political agent, explaining matters. The Bheels turned out at various places along the road, and carried me to Mheysur by daylight next morning. Thence, Colonel Keatinge's riding cart took me the remaining four miles into Mundlaisir. I had with me a leathern water-bag, or "chagul," having a tin spout, and with it I kept the wound constantly wet. By this the inflammation was completely kept under. Soon after my arrival, my clothes were cut off; and I was sent to bed by Colonel Keatinge, who attended to my wants with much kindness. Charley Hunt, too, was in need of rest, having ridden beside me all night. That evening, Dr. Watson, of the Bengal Army, arrived after a thirty miles ride from Mhow, and considerably relieved my mind by intimating his intention of endeavoring to save the hand. He pleasantly remarked that any man could cut off a limb, but that it required a surgeon to save one. I received much attention from all my friends at Mundlaisir, and in about ten days was so far recovered as to be able to be moved in a palanquin to Mhow, where I remained under the surgical care and hospitable roof of Dr. Watson. I have no joint in that wrist, and can only partially close my band, but the limb is serviceable in most ways; and, as Watson used to remark, "It is better than a hook." My misadventure occurred about the 16th of April, and I was not able to take the field again before the 20th of June. Condensed from Wild Man and Wild Beasts; Scenes in Camp and Jungle, by Lt. -Col. Gordon Cumming. - "Library of Travel and Adventure," edited by Bayard Taylor. Hunting in India - Wild bulls Hunting in India - Tiger-hunting at night Hunting in India - Hunting the boar Hunting in India - Bitten by a bear Hunting in India - Tiger-hunting with elephants Hunting in India - The cow-killers killed Hunting in India - Death of a gun-bearer Eastern turbans Hunters paradise in China