54 
MEMOIR OF PENNANT. 
water with a most alarming dashing. 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 ivindows 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 Cferulean 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 :uid 
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 colorus, and jilaced on an elevated spot, 
w’here it receives the respects of all the guests, who 
celebrate in songs the praises of the bear. They 
