164 
TEETH-WOUNDS. 
the south. He uses his teeth much more generally 
than is supposed by systematic writers. The hugging, 
pawing, and boxing, which characterize the black and 
grisly bears, are resorted to by him only under peculiar 
circumstances. While wandering over his icy fields, he 
will rear himself upon his liind-legs to enlarge his circle 
of vision; and I have often seen him in this attitude 
pawing the air, as if practising for an apprehended con¬ 
flict. But it is only when absolutely beset, or when 
the female is defending her cub, that the Polar bear 
shows fight upon its haunches. Among seven hunters 
who visited the brig last December, no less than five 
were scarred by direct teetli-wounds of- hears. Two 
of these had been bit in the calves of the legs while 
running; and one, our friend Metek, had received a 
like dishonorable wound somewhat higher. Our dogs 
were seized by the nape of the neck and llung violently 
many paces to one side. 
The bear-hunt ranks foremost among the exhibitions 
of personal prowess. My intelligent friend Kalutunah 
excelled in it. Shanghu, his principal associate, was 
also skilful as well as daring. 
They both left the brig after a day’s rest, fully laden 
with wood and other presents, and promising to engage 
Metek, if they could, to come up with his four dogs. 
They themselves engaged to loan me one dog from 
each of their teams. It pleased me to find that I had 
earned character with these people, at first so sus¬ 
picious and distrustful. They left on board each man 
his dog, without a shade of doubt as to my good faith, 
