POLAR BEAR. Ill 



is brought clown by this stream, there is a pre- 

 valence of southerly winds in the lower latitudes, 

 otherwise the quantities of ice which are now 

 accumulated on the coast of Greenland would 

 be carried down close upon our own shores, and 

 no doubt affect our climate. 



While engaged in the occupation of dragging 

 the vessels we saw several bears, some of which 

 approached very near to the seamen who were 

 left on the ice to watch the ice-anchors. It 

 not unfrequently happened that one man only 

 was thus employed, and we were occasionally 

 apprehensive, from the very close approach of 

 these animals, that they would prove mischievous; 

 but they seemed disposed to gratify their cu- 

 riosity only, for, after advancing near enough to 

 scent them, they threw their long necks from 

 side to side, and leisurely pursued their stalking 

 pace in some oblique direction. The pace of 

 these animals seldom exceeds a walk, but from 

 the length of their strides even this rate is 

 quicker than that of a man. Nothing seems 

 to impede their progress, nor do they ever take 

 the trouble to go round a hillock or a pool of 

 water, but either climb over the one or dash 

 into the other, and swim to the bank on the 

 opposite side, which they ascend without diffi- 

 culty and resume their course. They were, how- 



