Higher up the Himalayas dwells the "snow bear." This species has
received from naturalists the very fanciful appellation of the "Isabella
bear" (_ursus isabellinus_)--a title suggested by its colour being that
known as "Isabella colour,"--the type of which was the very dirty gown
worn by Queen Isabella at the siege of Grenada. It is doubtful whether
any living man could exactly tell what is an Isabella colour; and the
use of such a phrase in describing the hue of an animal's skin is
altogether indefinite and, to say the least, absurd.
The "Isabella bears," moreover, are not always of the so called Isabella
colour. On the contrary, there are some of dark-brown, some of a hoary
brown, and others nearly white; and to Himalayan hunters they are known
by the various appellations of brown, red, yellow, white, grey, silver,
and snow, stowing the numerous varieties of colour met with in the
species. Some of these varieties are to be attributed to the different
seasons of the year, and the age of the animal.
Of all these designations, that of "snow bear" appears the most
characteristic, since it avoids the risk of a confusion of names--the
other titles being equally bestowed upon certain varieties of the _ursus
americanus_ and _ursus ferox_. It is also appropriate to the Himalayan
animal: since his favourite haunt is along the line of perpetual snow;
or in the grassy treeless tracts that intervene between the snow-line
and the forest-covered declivities--to which they descend only at
particular times of the year.
In identifying this species, but little reliance can be placed on
colour. In spring their fur is long and shaggy--of various shades of
yellowish brown, sometimes reddish-brown, and not unfrequently of a grey
or silvery hue. In summer this long yellowish fur falls off; and is
replaced by a shorter and darker coat, which gradually grows longer and
lighter as the winter approaches. The females are a shade
lighter-coloured than the males; and the cubs have a broad circle of
white around the neck, which gradually disappears as they grow to their
full size.
The snow bear _hybernates_, hiding himself away in a cave; and he is
only seen abroad when the spring sun begins to melt the snow upon the
grass-covered tracts near the borders of the forest. On these he may be
found throughout the summer--feeding upon grass and roots, with such
reptiles and insects as come in his way. In the autumn he enters the
forests in search of berries and nuts, and at this season--like his
congener, the black bear--he even extends his depredations to the
cultivated grounds and gardens of the villagers, in search of fruit and
grain, buckwheat being a favourite food with him.
Though naturally a vegetarian in his diet, he will eat flesh-meat upon
occasions; and frequently makes havoc among the flocks of sheep and
goats, that in summer are taken up to pasture on the grassy tracts above
mentioned. While thus engaged, he does not regard the presence of man;
but will attack the shepherds who may attempt to drive him off.
Among the many strange items that compose the larder of the snow bear,
grubs and scorpions have a prominent place. He spends much of his time
in searching for these--scratching them out of their holes, and turning
over stones to get at them. Great boulders of rock, that a man could
not move, he will roll over with his muscular arms; and large tracts of
ground may be seen with the stones thus displaced.
It was while engaged in this curious occupation, that our hunters came
upon one of the snow bears; which they succeeded in killing. He was not
the first they had encountered: they had started several, and wounded
two; but both had got off from them. This one, however, fell to their
"bag," and in rather an unexpected fashion.
They were working their toilsome way up a narrow ravine--which, although
the season was autumn, was still filled with snow, that lay in the
bottom of the gorge to a great depth. It was snow that had lain all the
year; and although not frozen, the surface was firm and stiff; and it
was with difficulty they could get support for their feet on it. Here
and there they were compelled to stop and cut steps in the snow--as the
surface sloped upward at an angle of full 50 degrees, and, in fact, they
were rather climbing than walking. Their object, in undertaking this
toilsome ascent, was simply because they had seen a bear going up the
same way but a few minutes before; and the scratches of his claws were
visible on the snow just before their faces.
Making as little noise as possible, they kept onward; and at length
reached the head of the gorge. On peeping cautiously over, they saw a
little table-like tract of level ground, several acres in extent. It
was quite clear of snow; and covered with green herbage. A number of
large boulder stones lay scattered over it--which had evidently rolled
down from the mountain-side that rose still higher above the table.
But the sight that most gratified them was the bear himself--no doubt,
the same they had seen going up the ravine. They now discovered him
upon the level ground, not twenty yards from the spot where they stood.
In a strange attitude they saw him--grasping between his fore paws a
huge boulder stone, almost as large as his own body, and evidently in
the act of rolling it out of its bed!
They were the less astonished at what they saw: for, being already
acquainted with this singular habit of the snow bear, they knew what he
was about. They did not stay, therefore, to watch his herculean
labours; but all three, levelling their guns, pulled trigger
simultaneously. The bullets--some of them, at least--evidently struck
the bear; but, although, he dropped the great boulder--which at once
fell back into its place--he did not himself drop. On the contrary, he
turned suddenly round; and, giving utterance to a savage growl, rushed
direct towards the hunters.
The latter, not having time to reload, had no choice but to run for it.
There was no other way of escape open to them, except by the gorge up
which they had come; as, to attempt ascending to the level ground would
have brought them face to face with the bear. They turned, therefore;
and commenced retreating down the ravine.
But now came the difficulty. They had not made three strides, before
perceiving that they could not keep their feet upon the hard sloping
surface of the snow. They had no time to cut fresh steps, nor pick out
their old ones: as by doing either they would go too slowly, while the
bear could scramble down the snow as rapidly as on bare ground. There
was no alternative, therefore, but to fling themselves on their
posteriors, and slide down the slope.
Quick as came the thought, all three of them dropped down upon their
hams; and using their guns to prevent them from going with too great
velocity, they shot downward to the bottom of the ravine.
On reaching the lower end of the slope, and regaining their feet, they
turned and looked back up the gorge. The bear had arrived at the upper
end; and was standing with his fore feet projected over the edge, and
resting upon the snow. He appeared to be undecided, as to whether he
should come down after them, or give up the pursuit. He was within easy
range of a bullet; and they bethought them of reloading and giving him a
fresh volley; when, to their chagrin, they discovered that the barrels
of their guns were filled with snow--which had got into them during the
descent.
While lamenting this unfortunate accident--in the full belief that they
would now lose the bear--they saw the animal make a strange movement.
It was forward, and towards them--as if he had made up his mind to
charge down the slope; but they soon perceived that this could not be
his intention: for as he came gliding on, sometimes his head, and
sometimes his stern, was foremost; and it was evident that instead of
the movement being a voluntary act on his part, it was quite the
contrary. The fact was, that the bullets which they had fired into him
had drawn the life's blood out of his veins; and having stood too long
on the sloping edge of the snow, he had fallen through feebleness; and
was now tumbling down the ravine, without strength enough to stay his
descent.
In another instant he lay stretched almost at the feet of the hunters;
for the impetus imparted to his huge carcass in the descent, had brought
it with such a "whack" against a large rock, as to deprive him of
whatever either of blood or breath there had been left in his body.
The hunters, however, made sure of this, by drawing their long knives,
and making an additional vent or two between his ribs--thus securing
themselves against all risk of his resuscitation.
They had now finished with the Himalayan bears of known and unknown
kinds; but Alexis learnt enough from hunters, whom they had encountered
during their sojourn in these mountains, to convince him that great
confusion exists among naturalists as to the different species and
varieties that inhabit the Himalayan range. Of the "snow bear" itself,
a variety exists in the mountains of Cashmere; which, as far as Alexis
could learn, was very different from the kind they had killed. The
Cashmirian variety is of a deep reddish-brown colour, much longer in the
muzzle than the "snow bear," and also a more dangerous antagonist to
man--being a brute of eminently carnivorous propensity and savage
disposition.
"It is quite probable," remarks Alexis, in his journal, "that instead of
three kinds of bears inhabiting the Himalayan range, twice that number
of `species'--or at all events, of permanent varieties--may be found
within the extensive area covered by these stupendous mountains."