ELISHA KENT KANE. 45 



posed of quartz, gneiss, syenite, and others, all be- 

 longing to the primary series. These rocks had 

 been thus exposed to view from the change which 

 had taken place in the equilibrium of the berg, thus 

 placing that portion of it which had been formerly 

 near its base in a more elevated position. The 

 forms and shapes of these Polar icebergs are innu- 

 merable, and sometimes most fantastic. Often their 

 coloring is beautiful in the extreme, when the rays 

 of the sun impinge upon, and are refracted at certain 

 angles from, their diversified and irregular surfaces. 

 ISTow and then the tedious monotony of the cruise 

 was relieved by a thrilling adventure with the Polar 

 bears. On the 7th of August an incident of this 

 description occurred. In the morning a bear was 

 seen approaching the Rescue, attracted by curiosity 

 to inspect more closely the bold strangers who had 

 thus invaded the solitudes of his own inhospitable 

 clime. When first discovered he was swimming 



o 



toward the vessel, breaking the newly-formed ice 

 with his fore-paws. He then made successive dives, 

 coming up each time between the cavities in the 

 ice. As he first rose from these immersions, he 

 panted and shook his head to free it from the water. 

 A boat advanced from the vessel to meet him. 

 Captain Griffin was the first who saluted him with 

 a bullet, which lodged under his left shoulder, but 



