90 
thority. It will not prey on man, says 
lie, unless pressed by hunger, and it de¬ 
serves to be mentioned, that the Green¬ 
landers feign themselves dead when 
they wish to avoid their pursuit. It 
cannot, however, be denied, that when 
attacked, or hungry, they are extremely 
dangerous to man. Many well authenti¬ 
cated instances are to be met with of the 
courage with which they have attacked 
the crews of boats, or even of ships. The 
following is one of the many. 65 A few 
years since, the crew of a boat belong¬ 
ing to a ship in the whale fishery, shot at 
a bear at a short distance, and wounded 
it. The animal immediately set up the 
most dreadful yells, and ran along the 
ice towards the boat. Before it reached 
it, a second shot was fired, and hit it. 
This served to increase its fury. It pre¬ 
sently swam to the boat; and in at¬ 
tempting to get on board, reached its 
fore foot upon the gunwale; but one of 
