VOYAGE TO GREENLAND. 
105 
a mile from the ice, before the boat could overtake 
it. When this was accomplished, the bear resolutely 
faced the boat, and efforts were made to wound it 
with lances, but, the thickness of its skin, as the 
men stated, was impenetrable to the weapons, though 
I cannot help thinking that Bruin’s hideous grins, 
his loud roar, and his daring attempts to reach the 
boat, by intimidating the assailants, kept them at too 
great a distance to attack him successfully. After 
several conflicts he swam to the ice, where he was 
opposed by two men, but whether the lances would 
not enter his breast, or whether the men still ap- 
prehended the consequences of approaching so for- 
midable an enemy, I know not ; but he marched 
away uninjured, and I was only astonished that he 
did not make a meal of one of the assailants. 
After breakfast, we again sailed towards the west. 
The difficulties which we had to encounter were 
even more numerous than they had hitherto been, 
and the nature of our sailing was quite different 
from any that had before been exhibited ; we had 
to work directly against the wind through a passage 
or lead, at least three miles in length, and in many 
parts not more than a hundred yards wide, with 
heavy pieces of ice in the channel. It must be ob- 
served that this navigation is totally unlike working 
through a narrow passage, with the advantage of a 
tide ; for here is no such assistance, and every thing 
must be attained by nicety in management of the 
helm and sail. In no sailing match, even with 
numerous vessels in competition, could that skill 
