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let the arrow go。 They do all this because they believe that the wandering ghost of the slain bear would attack them on the first opportunity； if they did not thus appease it。 Or they stuff the skin of the slain bear with hay； and after celebrating their victory with songs of mockery and insult； after spitting on and kicking it； they set it up on its hind legs； and then； for a considerable time； they bestow on it all the veneration due to a guardian god。 When a party of Koryak have killed a bear or a wolf； they skin the beast and dress one of themselves in the skin。 Then they dance round the skin…clad man； saying that it was not they who killed the animal； but some one else； generally a Russian。 When they kill a fox they skin it； wrap the body in grass； and bid him go tell his companions how hospitably he has been received； and how he has received a new cloak instead of his old one。 A fuller account of the Koryak ceremonies is given by a more recent writer。 He tells us that when a dead bear is brought to the house； the women come out to meet it； dancing with firebrands。 The bear…skin is taken off along with the head； and one of the women puts on the skin； dances in it； and entreats the bear not to be angry； but to be kind to the people。 At the same time they offer meat on a wooden platter to the dead beast； saying； Eat； friend。 Afterwards a ceremony is performed for the purpose of sending the dead bear； or rather his spirit； away back to his home。 He is provided with provisions for the journey in the shape of puddings or reindeer…flesh packed in a grass bag。 His skin is stuffed with grass and carried round the house； after which he is supposed to depart towards the rising sun。 The intention of the ceremonies is to protect the people from the wrath of the slain bear and his kinsfolk； and so to ensure success in future bear…hunts。 The Finns used to try to persuade a slain bear that he had not been killed by them； but had fallen from a tree； or met his death in some other way； moreover； they held a funeral festival in his honour； at the close of which bards expatiated on the homage that had been paid to him； urging him to report to the other bears the high consideration with which he had been treated； in order that they also； following his example； might come and be slain。 When the Lapps had succeeded in killing a bear with impunity； they thanked him for not hurting them and for not breaking the clubs and spears which had given him his death wounds； and they prayed that he would not visit his death upon them by sending storms or in any other way。 His flesh then furnished a feast。
The reverence of hunters for the bear whom they regularly kill and eat may thus be traced all along the northern region of the Old World from Bering's Straits to Lappland。 It reappears in similar forms in North America。 With the American Indians a bear hunt was an important event for which they prepared by long fasts and purgations。 Before setting out they offered expiatory sacrifices to the souls of bears slain in previous hunts； and besought them to be favourable to the hunters。 When a bear was killed the hunter lit his pipe； and putting the mouth of it between the bear's lips； blew into the bowl； filling the beast's mouth with smoke。 Then he begged the bear not to be angry at having been killed； and not to thwart him afterwards in the chase。 The carcase was roasted whole and eaten； not a morsel of the flesh might be left over。 The head； painted red and blue； was hung on a post and addressed by orators； who heaped praise on the dead beast。 When men of the Bear clan in the Ottawa tribe killed a bear； they made him a feast of his own flesh； and addressed him thus： Cherish us no grudge because we have killed you。 You have sense； you see that our children are hungry。 They love you and wish to take you into their bodies。 Is it not glorious to be eaten by the children of a chief？ Amongst the Nootka Indians of British Columbia； when a bear had been killed； it was brought in and seated before the head chief in an upright posture； with a chief's bonnet； wrought in figures； on its head； and its fur powdered over with white down。 A tray of provisions was then set before it； and it was invited by words and gestures to eat。 After that the animal was skinned； boiled； and eaten。
A like respect is testified for other dangerous creatures by the hunters who regularly trap and kill them。 When Caffre hunters are in the act of showering spears on an elephant； they call out； Don't kill us； great captain； don't strike or tread upon us； mighty chief。 When he is dead they make their excuses to him； pretending that his death was a pure accident。 As a mark of respect they bury his trunk with much solemn ceremony； for they say that the elephant is a great lord； his trunk is his hand。 Before the Amaxosa Caffres attack an elephant they shout to the animal and beg him to pardon them for the slaughter they are about to perpetrate； professing great submission to his person and explaining clearly the need they have of his tusks to enable them to procure beads and supply their wants。 When they have killed him they bury in the ground； along with the end of his trunk； a few of the articles they have obtained for the ivory； thus hoping to avert some mishap that would otherwise befall them。 Amongst some tribes of Eastern Africa； when a lion is killed； the carcase is brought before the king； who does homage to it by prostrating himself on the ground and rubbing his face on the muzzle of the beast。 In some parts of Western Africa if a negro kills a leopard he is bound fast and brought before the chiefs for having killed one of their peers。 The man defends himself on the plea that the leopard is chief of the forest and therefore a stranger。 He is then set at liberty and rewarded。 But the dead leopard； adorned with a chief's bonnet； is set up in the village； where nightly dances are held in its honour。 The Baganda greatly fear the ghosts of buffaloes which they have killed； and they always appease these dangerous spirits。 On no account will they bring the head of a slain buffalo into a village or into a garden of plantains： they always eat the flesh of the head in the open country。 Afterwards they place the skull in a small hut built for the purpose； where they pour out beer as an offering and pray to the ghost to stay where he is and not to harm them。
Another formidable beast whose life the savage hunter takes with joy； yet with fear and trembling； is the whale。 After the slaughter of a whale the maritime Koryak of North…eastern Siberia hold a communal festival； the essential part of which is based on the conception that the whale killed has come on a visit to the village； that it is staying for some time； during which it is treated with great respect； that it then returns to the sea to repeat its visit the following year； that it will induce its relatives to come along； telling them of the hospitable reception that has been accorded to it。 According to the Koryak ideas； the whales； like all other animals； constitute one tribe； or rather family； of related individuals； who live in villages like the Koryak。 They avenge the murder of one of their number； and are grateful for kindnesses that