54 MEMOIR OF PENNANT. 



water with a most alarming clashing. Frost sports 

 also with these icebergs, and gives them majestic 

 as well as other most singular forms. Masses have 

 been seen assuming the shape of a gothic church, 

 with arched windows and doors, and all the rich 

 tracery of that style, composed of what an Arabian 

 tale would scarcely dare to relate, of crystal of the 

 richest sapphirine blue ; tables with one or more 

 feet; and often immense flat-roofed temples, like 

 those of Luxor on the Nile, supported by round 

 transparent columns of cerulean hue, float by the 

 spectator. The snow of these high latitudes is as 

 singular as the ice ; it is first small and hard as the 

 finest sand ; changes its form to that of an hexa- 

 gonal shield; into the shape of needles, crosses, 

 cinquefoils, and stars plain and with serrated rays. 

 Their forms depend on the disposition of the at- 

 mosphere ; and in calm weather it coalesces and 

 falls in clusters." 



In treating of the different varieties of the bear, 

 Pennant gives a very amusing account of the man- 

 ner in which the arctic tribes hunt these animals, 

 and of certain superstitious customs which they 

 observe on these occasions. " In all savage nations 

 the bear has been an object of veneration. Among 

 the Americans, a feast is made in honour of each 

 that is killed. The head of the beast is painted 

 with all colours, and placed on an elevated spot, 

 where it receives the respects of all the guests, who 

 celebrate in songs the praises of the bear. They 



