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pectators； the old women weeping afresh and the men uttering stifled cries； he is strapped； not without difficulty and danger； and being let out of the cage is led on leash or dragged； according to the state of his temper； thrice round his cage； then round his master's house； and lastly round the house of the orator。 Thereupon he is tied up to a tree； which is decked with sacred whittled sticks （inao） of the usual sort； and the orator again addresses him in a long harangue； which sometimes lasts till the day is beginning to break。 Remember； he cries； remember！ I remind you of your whole life and of the services we have rendered you。 It is now for you to do your duty。 Do not forget what I have asked of you。 You will tell the gods to give us riches； that our hunters may return from the forest laden with rare furs and animals good to eat； that our fishers may find troops of seals on the shore and in the sea； and that their nets may crack under the weight of the fish。 We have no hope but in you。 The evil spirits laugh at us； and too often they are unfavourable and malignant to us； but they will bow before you。 We have given you food and joy and health； now we kill you in order that you may in return send riches to us and to our children。 To this discourse the bear； more and more surly and agitated； listens without conviction； round and round the tree he paces and howls lamentably； till； just as the first beams of the rising sun light up the scene； an archer speeds an arrow to his heart。 No sooner has he done so； than the marksman throws away his bow and flings himself on the ground； and the old men and women do the same； weeping and sobbing。 Then they offer the dead beast a repast of rice and wild potatoes； and having spoken to him in terms of pity and thanked him for what he has done and suffered； they cut off his head and paws and keep them as sacred things。 A banquet on the flesh and blood of the bear follows。 Women were formerly excluded from it； but now they share with the men。 The blood is drunk warm by all present； the flesh is boiled； custom forbids it to be roasted。 And as the relics of the bear may not enter the house by the door； and Aino houses in Saghalien have no windows； a man gets up on the roof and lets the flesh； the head； and the skin down through the smoke…hole。 Rice and wild potatoes are then offered to the head； and a pipe； tobacco； and matches are considerately placed beside it。 Custom requires that the guests should eat up the whole animal before they depart； the use of salt and pepper at the meal is forbidden； and no morsel of the flesh may be given to the dogs。 When the banquet is over； the head is carried away into the depth of the forest and deposited on a heap of bears' skulls； the bleached and mouldering relics of similar festivals in the past。
The Gilyaks； a Tunguzian people of Eastern Siberia； hold a bear…festival of the same sort once a year in January。 The bear is the object of the most refined solicitude of an entire village and plays the chief part in their religious ceremonies。 An old she…bear is shot and her cub is reared； but not suckled； in the village。 When the bear is big enough he is taken from his cage and dragged through the village。 But first they lead him to the bank of the river； for this is believed to ensure abundance of fish to each family。 He is then taken into every house in the village； where fish； brandy； and so forth are offered to him。 Some people prostrate themselves before the beast。 His entrance into a house is supposed to bring a blessing； and if he snuffs at the food offered to him； this also is a blessing。 Nevertheless they tease and worry； poke and tickle the animal continually； so that he is surly and snappish。 After being thus taken to every house； he is tied to a peg and shot dead with arrows。 His head is then cut off； decked with shavings； and placed on the table where the feast is set out。 Here they beg pardon of the beast and worship him。 Then his flesh is roasted and eaten in special vessels of wood finely carved。 They do not eat the flesh raw nor drink the blood； as the Aino do。 The brain and entrails are eaten last； and the skull； still decked with shavings； is placed on a tree near the house。 Then the people sing and both sexes dance in ranks； as bears。
One of these bear…festivals was witnessed by the Russian traveller L。 von Schrenck and his companions at the Gilyak village of Tebach in January 1856。 From his detailed report of the ceremony we may gather some particulars which are not noticed in the briefer accounts which I have just summarised。 The bear； he tells us； plays a great part in the life of all the peoples inhabiting the region of the Amoor and Siberia as far as Kamtchatka； but among none of them is his importance greater than among the Gilyaks。 The immense size which the animal attains in the valley of the Amoor； his ferocity whetted by hunger； and the frequency of his appearance； all combine to make him the most dreaded beast of prey in the country。 No wonder； therefore； that the fancy of the Gilyaks is busied with him and surrounds him； both in life and in death； with a sort of halo of superstitious fear。 Thus； for example； it is thought that if a Gilyak falls in combat with a bear； his soul transmigrates into the body of the beast。 Nevertheless his flesh has an irresistible attraction for the Gilyak palate； especially when the animal has been kept in captivity for some time and fattened on fish； which gives the flesh； in the opinion of the Gilyaks； a peculiarly delicious flavour。 But in order to enjoy this dainty with impunity they deem it needful to perform a long series of ceremonies； of which the intention is to delude the living bear by a show of respect； and to appease the anger of the dead animal by the homage paid to his departed spirit。 The marks of respect begin as soon as the beast is captured。 He is brought home in triumph and kept in a cage； where all the villagers take it in turns to feed him。 For although he may have been captured or purchased by one man； he belongs in a manner to the whole village。 His flesh will furnish a common feast； and hence all must contribute to support him in his life。 The length of time he is kept in captivity depends on his age。 Old bears are kept only a few months； cubs are kept till they are full…grown。 A thick layer of fat on the captive bear gives the signal for the festival； which is always held in winter； generally in December but sometimes in January or February。 At the festival witnessed by the Russian travellers； which lasted a good many days； three bears were killed and eaten。 More than once the animals were led about in procession and compelled to enter every house in the village； where they were fed as a mark of honour； and to show that they were welcome guests。 But before the beasts set out on this round of visits； the Gilyaks played at skipping…rope in presence； and perhaps； as L。 von Schrenck inclined to believe； in honour of the animals。 The night before they were killed； the three bears were led by moonlight a long way on the ice of the frozen river。 That night no one in the village might sleep。 Next day； after the animals had been again led down the steep bank to the river； and con