What did she look like?

I asked Mr. Brockis for a good description because I was trying to draw La Bête, I thought the descriptions he sent would be good to put up for other people interested in what La Bête may have looked like. The illustration I created uses the front skeleton and muscles of a bear coupled with the back hindquaters of a tiger. Feel free to use this illustration for any purposes concerning la Bête. - webmaster/illustrator

The Description of La Bête, from Derek Brockis 12/2002

 There are various opinions as to her appearance and species. A resident of Langogne, it was said, had seen her and been so terrified that she became very ill. He depicts her as long, low, brownish colour with a black stripe down her back, long tail and very big claws.

NATURE OF LA BÊTE DU GÉVAUDAN 23

The Curate of Aumont, who had chased her at the head of his parishioners and who had seen her three times, represented the animal as ‘long, as big as a one-year-old calf, the muzzle like that of a pig, this being as much as one could see from a distance’. Her ravages were such that popular imagination, once unleashed, was unbounded.

She is, one reads, much bigger than a wolf, about the height and almost the shape of a grown wolf, a muzzle approaching that of a calf, her coat very long and of the character of a hyena. It could indeed be that the length of her fur was an obstacle to gunshot and that penetration was difficult. Usually she is timid, taking flight as soon as any weapons are presented to her and not making any attack except by surprise and when she finds undefended women or children, which makes one think that she could not be either tiger or leopard. On the occasions when people have been attacked, only one beast has been seen.

LA BÊTE FÉROCE DU GÉVAUDAN 24

Because of the rapidity of her progress it was rumored that there were at least two ferocious beasts.

"This animal", it was said, "seems to make mock of the blows which are delivered upon it, it licks itself and charges again, it is strong, agile and cunning, it flees from determined people and preys on those who are more timid. It prowls evenings and mornings, it goes listening around houses". It was not certain if it had four legs. It was a tiger cat which was not found anywhere except in the Yucatan, near the island of Mexico. It was born in Africa. It was a hyena escaped from a menagerie at the Beaucaire fair. She was said to have disembarked in France from the Mediterranean or even swum from the ocean.

LA BÊTE FÉROCE DU GÉVAUDAN 25

It was a monster of astounding mobility, now seen in one place and then in another seven or eight leagues away on the same day. It crossed over the highest of walls in one bound, its eyes were glittering, it cracked its teeth against each other , it was formidable in its appearance, being as big as a calf of one year old, the coat was reddish, the head was big and more brown than the rest of the body, it is not a wolf, the jaws are always gaping, the ears are short and straight, the chest white and very broad, the tail very long and thick, the tip white, the back paws very big and long, according to some having hooves like a horse, those of the front were shorter and covered with a long fur, having six claws to each paw. There is not to be found in this region any wild beast from which it could have been born. You could deduce that, having much resemblance to the wolf and little to the bear it could have resulted from a bear and a she-wolf, thus it would have come from the Alps. It could well have been some sort of big monkey, because of the evidence that when this animal crossed over a river it raised itself on its hind legs and waded over like a human being. She waved her two paws in front of her and appeared to be of about the same height as an average man.

LA BÊTE FÉROCE DU GÉVAUDAN 26

At first it was said that this beast was a panther, a lion, an ape, a monster. In the end ,it was found to be so difficult to determine her nature that it was said in a letter by Denneval ‘In order to find the species and to know what carnage's she is capable of there is by order of the King a surgeon available to open her on the spot’.

The animal, continuing its ravages and escaping every pursuit and beat with dexterity, showed itself persistently to be a punishment by God yet they put the blame elsewhere. The beast was not being killed because "the hunts and beats were badly managed and carried out and it was the inefficiency of all the chases that made people at large believe this animal was invulnerable". Someone, it was said, had even heard her laugh and talk.

She attacks particularly women and children. There are various opinions as to her appearance and species. A resident of Langogne, it was said, had seen her and been so terrified that she became very ill. He depicts her as long, low, brownish colour with a black stripe down her back, long tail and very big claws.

NATURE OF LA BÊTE DU GÉVAUDAN 23

The Curate of Aumont, who had chased her at the head of his parishioners and who had seen her three times, represented the animal as ‘long, as big as a one-year-old calf, the muzzle like that of a pig, this being as much as one could see from a distance’. Her ravages were such that popular imagination, once unleashed, was unbounded.

She is, one reads, much bigger than a wolf, about the height and almost the shape of a grown wolf, a muzzle approaching that of a calf, her coat very long and of the character of a hyena. It could indeed be that the length of her fur was an obstacle to gunshot and that penetration was difficult. Usually she is timid, taking flight as soon as any weapons are presented to her and not making any attack except by surprise and when she finds undefended women or children, which makes one think that she could not be either tiger or leopard. On the occasions when people have been attacked, only one beast has been seen.

LA BÊTE FÉROCE DU GÉVAUDAN 24

Because of the rapidity of her progress it was rumored that there were at least two ferocious beasts.

"This animal", it was said, "seems to make mock of the blows which are delivered upon it, it licks itself and charges again, it is strong, agile and cunning, it flees from determined people and preys on those who are more timid. It prowls evenings and mornings, it goes listening around houses". It was not certain if it had four legs. It was a tiger cat which was not found anywhere except in the Yucatan, near the island of Mexico. It was born in Africa. It was a hyena escaped from a menagerie at the Beaucaire fair. She was said to have disembarked in France from the Mediterranean or even swum from the ocean.

LA BÊTE FÉROCE DU GÉVAUDAN 25

It was a monster of astounding mobility, now seen in one place and then in another seven or eight leagues away on the same day. It crossed over the highest of walls in one bound, its eyes were glittering, it cracked its teeth against each other , it was formidable in its appearance, being as big as a calf of one year old, the coat was reddish, the head was big and more brown than the rest of the body, it is not a wolf, the jaws are always gaping, the ears are short and straight, the chest white and very broad, the tail very long and thick, the tip white, the back paws very big and long, according to some having hooves like a horse, those of the front were shorter and covered with a long fur, having six claws to each paw. There is not to be found in this region any wild beast from which it could have been born. You could deduce that, having much resemblance to the wolf and little to the bear it could have resulted from a bear and a she-wolf, thus it would have come from the Alps. It could well have been some sort of big monkey, because of the evidence that when this animal crossed over a river it raised itself on its hind legs and waded over like a human being. She waved her two paws in front of her and appeared to be of about the same height as an average man.

LA BÊTE FÉROCE DU GÉVAUDAN 26

At first it was said that this beast was a panther, a lion, an ape, a monster. In the end ,it was found to be so difficult to determine her nature that it was said in a letter by Denneval ‘In order to find the species and to know what carnages she is capable of there is by order of the King a surgeon available to open her on the spot’.

The animal, continuing its ravages and escaping every pursuit and beat with dexterity, showed itself persistently to be a punishment by God yet they put the blame elsewhere. The beast was not being killed because "the hunts and beats were badly managed and carried out and it was the inefficiency of all the chases that made people at large believe this animal was invulnerable". Someone, it was said, had even heard her laugh and talk.

The Syndics of Vivarais and of Gévaudan have each published a reward of four hundred livres to whoever kills this animal. There are a lot of different opinions on its appearance and on its species. An innkeeper of Langogne who has seen it and become seriously ill with fright describes it as long, low brownish colour with a black stripe on its back, long tail. The claws are very big. A curate who chased it at the head of his parishioners and who has seen it three times describes it as long, big as a calf of one year, the same colour, a black stripe and a muzzle like that of a pig.

Several peasants describe it in about the same terms with the single difference being that they give to its head the resemblance of a cat, which is certainly nothing like that of a pig.

But it matters little for such an evil animal to know what species it is or what it looks like, the important thing is to kill it.

(Compare this woodcut with photo below)

THE FIRST HUNTS BY DUHAMEL 99

As it does not run away and fear does not stop you from approaching it and observing it closely, one should be able to describe it exactly and by the description which will be made it will be easy, above all by those who have frequented zoos, to discern its species. Bull. 1872. 102.

In spite of the snow reported by the Syndic, the hunts must have been able to be carried out, since we see from the records of the death of the woman of Buffeyrettes that the people of the district could continue to pasture their beasts in the region of Aumont, which is one of the coldest districts in the Gévaudan.

The tip white, the back paws very big and long, according to some having hooves like a horse, those of the front were shorter and covered with a long fur, having six claws to each paw. There is not to be found in this region any wild beast from which it could have been born. You could deduce that, having much resemblance to the wolf and little to the bear it could have resulted from a bear and a she-wolf, thus it would have come from the Alps. It could well have been some sort of big monkey, because of the evidence that when this animal crossed over a river it raised itself on its hind legs and waded over like a human being. She waved her two paws in front of her and appeared to be of about the same height as an average man.

Langogne who has seen it and become seriously ill with fright describes it as long, low brownish colour with a black stripe on its back, long tail. The claws are very big. A curate who chased it at the head of his parishioners and who has seen it three times describes it as long, big as a calf of one year, the same colour, a black stripe and a muzzle like that of a pig.

Several peasants describe it in about the same terms with the single difference being that they give to its head the resemblance of a cat, which is certainly nothing like that of a pig.

But it matters little for such an evil animal to know what species it is or what it looks like, the important thing is to kill it.

THE FIRST HUNTS BY DUHAMEL 99

As it does not run away and fear does not stop you from approaching it and observing it closely, one should be able to describe it exactly and by the description which will be made it will be easy, above all by those who have frequented zoos, to discern its species. Bull. 1872. 102.

In spite of the snow reported by the Syndic, the hunts must have been able to be carried out, since we see from the records of the death of the woman of Buffeyrettes that the people of the district could continue to pasture their beasts in the region of Aumont, which is one of the coldest districts in the Gévaudan.

SPREADING OF THE MURDERS 151

Her front legs are fairly short but her paws are in the form of fingers, being armed with long claws. Her back resembles that of what is called a shark or crocodile, it is covered with scales terminating in points. Her rear paws are like those of a horse and she rears up to pounce on her prey. Her tail resembles that of a leopard and is perhaps even a little longer. Her body is of the size of a one-year old calf and covered from one side to the other with a short smooth coat of reddish brown color; there is hardly any fur under the stomach.

This Bête, which has done so much harm in the above districts, has already devoured more than fifty people and every day you hear that she has carried out new ravages, sometimes in one district, sometimes in another. The rapidity of her movements and of her travels is ,it could be said, inconceivable for one is assured that she travels at eight leagues per hour.

In this little fight several things happened that you might be interested in but which are too lengthy. The shepherd noticed, among other things, that La Bête had four claws on each paw. At last she charged at his flock and ate one of his best sheep in the middle of them.

GENERAL ACCOUNT OF 11TH APRIL 1765. 493

It is less redoubtable because of its strength than by its agility. However, it is the size of a one year old calf, the coat reddish, the head big and darker than the rest of the body, the jaw always gaping, the ears short and straight, a black stripe four fingers wide right down the back, the chest white and very broad, the tail very long and very strong, except for the tip, which is white, the back paws are very big and long, those of the front, shorter and covered with long hair. It has six claws on each paw, which has been noted from the imprints of its paws on snow or soft ground.

No one has been able to work out where this monster has come from because there have been no reports of it having killed elsewhere and there is no ferocious animal from which it could have been bred. It can be supposed, only because it has a lot of resemblance to a wolf and some to a bear, that it could have come from a cross between a she-wolf, of which there are many in the mountains of the Alps, and one of the bears that also live there.

GENERAL ACCOUNT OF 11TH APRIL 1765. 494

It could have found refuge in the forests of that region, after they bore it, have grown up, become strong and not failed to leave evidence of its cruelty wherever it has traveled. Her body seems light and supple but impenetrable. Nothing harms her, not even gunpowder. They know her skin is so hard that the sharpest stabs do not penetrate it. By unknown tricks she avoids all the blows. She is much more skillful than wolves at escaping. When close to her victim, stomach on ground, she seems little bigger than a big fox. Alas, she rears up on her hind legs and looks like a monster created by the greatest sorcerers. From behind to the throat, or from the side, she ceaselessly attacks at such great speed the victim cannot see her and she cuts their throats as quickly. Indescribable monster, she can nevertheless be chased away. To make her run there is a spur, the cattle hate her, they will chase her and she will run with ignominy. She is often depicted as a deformed animal, on seeing her portrait, her nature is thus shown. Her paws are armed with very strong claws, her face has malevolent eyes. Taller than a wolf but shorter at the back.

EXTRACTS FROM POEMS OF 1765 1030

Her fur is reddish, her head pushed forward. Like a big greyhound the muzzle the end of the muzzle is of incredible size, ugly and coarse. Her ear is small and stands up like a horn and twists like a snail. Her chest is very broad, a little grayish. Along her back is a blackish stripe. Her enormous throat is well armed with teeth and they cut like a bright sabre, just right for cutting-off heads. Such a jaw is rare in other animals. This harm is always happening to somebody. It cuts sharp and neat like a razor and spares no one from this frightful disaster. From what was this monster bred? Does it please God that people are disemboweled? In this cold district a high price is paid for wood because nobody dares to go into the forests to seek it. It is fear rather than the cold. The people tremble and are tortured. Could it be that hell has vomited forth this man-eating insatiable monster from its breast? Is it a demon incarnate that has come to earth to wage war on humanity? Is it one in bringing the reign of the Antichrist?

EXTRACTS FROM POEMS OF 1765 1031

Bringing here at this time his infernal spirit. More than a wild wolf, it is a werewolf, which gets its desires by any means. It is still true that nobody can catch it, even though some have

It is to be noted that this evil an dangerous beast is without equal in its mobility, to the extent that as soon as she is seen in one district, she is seen in another. In the space of one day she is seen at seven or eight leagues from her first district. This is what has led a number of people to the belief that several of the same species exist, even to the extreme extent that she shows herself in different ways. Sometimes she appears very big, sometimes very little. She rears up onto her two back legs and, in this position, she swings her two front paws in the air to the extent that she looks to have the tallness of a man of medium height.

La Bête Féroce appeared in the Gévaudan in the month of November last has carried out ravages in that province almost every day as well as in the Rouergue, where she shows herself so often. Her jaw is almost the same as that of a lion but much bigger, the ears, when pricked up, stand out from the head by several inches and are pointed. The neck is covered with hair, is long, black and when bristled makes her look even more frightful. In addition to two rows of big pointed teeth she has two in the form of defensive tusks, as do boars an these are extremely pointed.

SPREADING OF THE MURDERS 151

Her front legs are fairly short but her paws are in the form of fingers, being armed with long claws. Her back resembles that of what is called a shark or crocodile, it is covered with scales terminating in points. Her rear paws are like those of a horse and she rears up to pounce on her prey. Her tail resembles that of a leopard and is perhaps even a little longer. Her body is of the size of a one-year old calf and covered from one side to the other with a short smooth coat of reddish brown color; there is hardly any fur under the stomach.

This Bête, which has done so much harm in the above districts, has already devoured more than fifty people and every day you hear that she has carried out new ravages, sometimes in one district, sometimes in another. The rapidity of her movements and of her travels is ,it could be said, inconceivable for one is assured that she travels at eight leagues per hour.

They attribute to La Bête all the ravages committed by lynxes in the various provinces of the kingdom at different times over the last 60 years. Her surprising agility seems to them to be beyond the laws of nature. She is such that I have measured ten to twelve feet between her tracks. These good people believe that it is useless to hunt this animal and impossible to kill her.

It is less redoubtable because of its strength than by its agility. However, it is the size of a one year old calf, the coat reddish, the head big and darker than the rest of the body, the jaw always gaping, the ears short and straight, a black stripe four fingers wide right down the back, the chest white and very broad, the tail very long and very strong, except for the tip, which is white, the back paws are very big and long, those of the front, shorter and covered with long hair. It has six claws on each paw, which has been noted from the imprints of its paws on snow or soft ground.

No one has been able to work out where this monster has come from because there have been no reports of it having killed elsewhere and there is no ferocious animal from which it could have been bred. It can be supposed, only because it has a lot of resemblance to a wolf and some to a bear, that it could have come from a cross between a she-wolf, of which there are many in the mountains of the Alps, and one of the bears that also live there.

It is less redoubtable because of its strength than by its agility. However, it is the size of a one year old calf, the coat reddish, the head big and darker than the rest of the body, the jaw always gaping, the ears short and straight, a black stripe four fingers wide right down the back, the chest white and very broad, the tail very long and very strong, except for the tip, which is white, the back paws are very big and long, those of the front, shorter and covered with long hair. It has six claws on each paw, which has been noted from the imprints of its paws on snow or soft ground.

No one has been able to work out where this monster has come from because there have been no reports of it having killed elsewhere and there is no ferocious animal from which it could have been bred. It can be supposed, only because it has a lot of resemblance to a wolf and some to a bear, that it could have come from a cross between a she-wolf, of which there are many in the mountains of the Alps, and one of the bears that also live there.

GENERAL ACCOUNT OF 11TH APRIL 1765. 494

Monsieur Governor,
By the Procès-verbal which I have the honor to send you, you will see that I have at last been lucky enough to kill before the hounds of the Royal Kennels a wolf in the estate of the Royal Abbey of Dames in Chazes. Such a size has never been seen by any of us before, such strength, weight, circumference, and the length of the four fangs, the big paws, make it biggest wolf we have ever seen. From its track can be seen that it pushes its nails more than an inch into the ground when it walks.

ANTOINE’S HUNT IN CHAZES WOOD. 821
It has always been recognized that, with supernatural strength, La Bête could drag very heavy bodies, live or dead, over a long distance and this animal would have been well capable of doing that.
I do not claim to prove that there were not also other wolves, who joined him in attacking humans, as occurred in these Provinces in 1630, when it took eight years to destroy them and I am too modest to claim that he was the only one. If I had received the hounds I asked for earlier, I would have had longer to become expert and would know more about it.
I learned on the 17th of the current month, from our hunters, that a big dog which was guarding cattle in the hamlet of Pépinet, parish of Venteuges, had been found eating the remains the wolf had left of the corpse of the girl killed in that place, the subject of the Procès-verbal on the 14th of the present month.

ANTOINE’S HUNT IN CHAZES WOOD. 822

As it was a police affair, I did not get involved., Except to tell M. Lafont’s brother. He has been a good companion and we were both sorry to part. He is full of common sense and judged that mounted policemen from Langeac should be sent for right away. As evidence he has brought back a foot and has been in touch with all the councilors and inhabitants of the said hamlet and been a great comfort. Just think, Sir, what it will mean if the many mastiffs in the Province start devouring the inhabitants everywhere.

--Regards Derek Brockis 12-2002