14 A HISTORY OF 



The least dangerous method of taking it is by intoxicating it, by 

 throwing brandy upon honey, which it seems to be chiefly fond of, and 

 seeks for in the hollow of trees. In Canada, where the Black Bears 

 are very common, and where their dens are made in the trees that 

 are hollow towards the top, they are taken by setting fire to their re- 

 treats, which are often above thirty feet from the ground. The old 

 one is generally seen first to issue from her den, and is shot by the 

 hunters. The young ones, as they descend, are caught in a noose, 

 and are either kept or killed for provision. Their paws are said to 

 be a great delicacy, and their hams are well enough known at the ta- 

 bles of the luxurious here. Their fat also, which still preserves a cer- 

 tain degree of fluidity, is supposed to be an efficacious remedy in white 

 or indolent tumours, though probably very little superior to hog's lard. 



The white Greenland Bear differs greatly, both in figure and di- 

 mensions, from those already described ; and though it preserves in 

 general the external form of its more southern kindred, yet it grows to 

 above three times the size. The brown bear is seldom above six feet 

 long; the white bear is often known from twelve to thirteen. The 

 brown bear is made rather stronger and sturdy, like the mastiff; the 

 Greenland bear, though covered with very long hair, and apparently 

 bulky, is nevertheless more slender, both as to the head, neck, and 

 body, and more inclining to the shape of the greyhound. In short, 

 all the variations of its figure and its colour, seem to proceed from the 

 coldness of the climate where it resides, and the nature of the food it 

 *s supplied with. 



The white bear seems the only animal that, by being placed in the 

 to.dest climate, grows larger than those that live in the temperate 

 zones. All other species of animated nature diminish as they ap 

 proacn the poles, and seem contracted in their size by the rigours oi 

 the ambient atmosphere ; but the bear, being unmolested in these de 

 solute climates, and meeting no animal but what he can easily con- 

 quer, finding also a sufficient supply of fishy provisions, grows to an 

 enormous size ; and as the lion is the tyrant of an African forest, so 

 the bear remains undisputed master of the icy mountains in Spitz 

 bergen and Greenland. When our mariners land upon those shores, 

 in such parts as have not been frequented before, the white bears 

 come down to view them with an awkward curiosity ; they approach 

 slowly, seeming undetermined whether to advance or retreat, and be 

 ing naturally a timorous animal, they are only urged on by the con- 

 scious experience of their former victories ; however, when they are 

 shot at, or wounded, they endeavour to fly, or finding that impractica- 

 ble, they make a fierce and desperate resistance till they die. As they 

 live upon fish and seals, their flesh is too strong for food, and the cap- 

 tors have nothing but the skin to reward them for the dangers incur- 

 red in the engagement. 



The number of these animals that are found about the north pole, 

 if we consider the scarcity there of all other terrestrial creatures, is 

 very amazing. They are not only seen at land, but often on ice- 

 Goats, several leagues at sea. They are often transported in this man- 

 ner to the very shores of Iceland, where they no sooner land, but alj 

 he natives arc in arms to receive them. It often happens, that when 



