1792. on the polar hear. 3^7 



another. They swim well, and can go the distance 

 of six or seven leagues : they will dive; but cannot 

 continue long under water. When the pieces of ice 

 are detached by strong winds or currents, the bears 

 allow themselves to be carried along with them ; and 

 as they cannot regain the land, or abandon the ice 

 on which they are embarked, they often perifli at 

 sea. But fhould a fhip come near them, instigated 

 by hunger, and naturally fearlefs, they will boldly 

 board it, and resolutely seize and devour the first ani- 

 mal they meet with. On these occasions, neither fire, 

 nor noise, nor any kind of threats, will stop it in its 

 progrefs ; nor can any thing but the death of the ani- 

 mal, itself, save the crew from its rapacious gripe ; 

 for it will follow thena_up the fhrouds, and along the 

 yards, wherever these are sufficiently strong to bear 

 its Weight. 



Sometimes bears are thus driven upon the coast of 

 Norway, almost famiflied for hunger by their long 

 v'Oyage ; but as soon as the natives discover one of 

 them, they arm themselves, and presently dispatch 

 him. Its flefli is white, and it is said to eat like 

 mutton. The fat is melted for train oil ; and that 

 of the feet is used in medicine. 



The white bear brings forth two young at a tiene. 

 Notwithstanding their savage appearance, and natu- 

 ral ferocity, their fondnefs for their offspring is so 

 great, that they vf ill die rather than dtsert them *. 

 Wounds serve only to make the attachment more 

 violent : they embrace their cubs to the last, and be- 

 moan them with the most piteous cries. 



• Stc a rcijnaikable instaice of this sjrt. Bee, vol. vii p. 90, 



