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THROUGH FINLAND. 289
_ from his cavern. The moment he fees the peafant, he rears him-
felf upon his two hind legs ready to tear him to pieces. The Fin-
_ lander inftantly puts himfelf in the attitude which is reprefented
- in the annexed plate; that is to fay, he brings back the iron lance
clofe to his breaft, concealing from the bear the length of the
pole, in order that he may not have time to be upon his guard,
and confequently to parry with his paws the mortal blow which
the hunter means to aim at his vitals. The Finlander then ad-
vances boldly towards the bear, nor does he ftrike the blow till
they are fo near each other, that the animal ftretches out his paws
to tear his antagonift limb from limb. At that inftant the pea-
fant pierces his heart with the lance, which, but for the crofs-bar,
would come out at his fhoulder; nor could he otherwife prevent
the bear from falling upon him, an accident which might be
highly dangerous. By means of the crofs-bar the animal is kept
upright, and ultimately thrown upon his back; but what may
feem to fome very extraordinary, is, the bear, feeling himfelf
wounded, inftead of attempting with his paws to pull out the
lance, holds it faft, and preffes it more deeply into the wound.
When the bear, after rolling upon the {now, ceafes from the laft
ftruggles of death, the Finlander lays hold of him, and calls for
the affiftance of his friends, who drag the carcafe to his hut; and
this triumph terminates in a fort of feftival, where the poet affitts,
and fings the exploits of the hunter.
The Finlanders are employed in f{ummer in cutting down their
hay and corn; the laft they threfh out in winter ; they build their
Vou. I. ey Pp boats,
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