ADVENTURE WITH A BEAR, 
283 
friendly. The Hollanders gave them victuals, which 
they received thankfully. At a distance were seen 
100 or 150 more Samoyedes. The Hollanders landed 
again, the next day. One among the Samoyedes ap¬ 
peared to be Hieir chief. In answer to inquiries con¬ 
cerning the seas and countries Eastward, they said, 
“that the sea East of the Waigatz was five days 
sailing in extent; that then was found another strait, 
and after passing that strait, was a great sea.” They 
said also, “ that beyond the Jenisei was another river 
named Moleconsay, and just so far extended the domi¬ 
nation of the Grand Duke. That the country beyond, 
to a great extent, was under the dominion of a Tartar 
Prince.” 
Whilst the ships were in the Strait of Waigatz, two 
of the seamen who were on shore, went along the sea- 
beach to look for shining or curious stones, when a 
bear approached them softly, and, before he was per¬ 
ceived, seized on one of them, who endeavoured, whilst 
the bear was beginning to devour him, to defend him¬ 
self with his knife, but was quickly killed. Above 
twenty seamen were on shore at the time, and they 
hastened towards the bear, armed with pikes and ar¬ 
quebuses. The bear, on their approach, quitted his 
prey, and running towards them, seized another man, 
whom he tore in pieces. The rest fled at first; but 
some of them returned and killed the bear. 
