ACKOSS THE SUB-AKCTICS OF CANADA 



since learned that polar bear's liver is considered to be 

 poisonous, both by the Eskimos and bj the north-sea -whalers. 



Peevious Beae HrxT. 



While on the subject of bears, it may be of interest to re- 

 late here a rather exciting personal experience I once had, 

 which took place several years before, on the barren, ice- 

 bound shores of Hudson Straits. 



We were a small detachment of explorers, travelling at the 

 time in the little steam launch of a scientific expedition, and 

 occupied in the geographical determination of a group of 

 hitherto unknown islands. The personnel of our party, with- 

 out giving full names, was as follows : The Doctor, who occu- 

 pied a position in the stern of the boat and acted as steers- 

 man; Mac, who, contrary to orders, had smuggled a small 

 rifle on board and come with us for sport ; Con., an able sea- 

 man from Newfoundland, and myself. 



The reason for orders having been given by our commander 

 to take no rifles with us was, doubtless, that we might not 

 allow sport to interfere with the object of our commission. 

 Besides Mac's single-shot rifle, I had in my belt a 38-calibre 

 S. & W. revolver, and these two, with a knife and an axe, 

 constituted our defence; but no special thought was given 

 to these things as at six o'clock on that summer morning, 

 in the shadow of the Arctics, our little expedition steamed 

 away on its mission, following and mapping the various 

 points and bays of the rocky shore, and giving all attention 

 to our work as we ploughed through the cold, blue waters. 



Before we had proceeded many miles it became necessary 

 to go ashore in order to obtain fresh water for the boiler of 

 the launch. Accordingly, observing what appeared to be a 

 little cascade falling over broken cliffs into the sea, our course 

 was shaped towards it; but before we could gain the shore 

 our purpose was for the time forgotten, because of the sudden 

 appearance, only a few yards ahead, of two polar bears — a 

 large one and her cub — swimming ia the water. 



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