omen and children, and even men,
when he has an opportunity. These creatures are generally found in cold
countries, and it is observed that the colder the climate is, the
greater size and fierceness do they attain to. There is a remarkable
account of one of these animals suddenly attacking a soldier when on
duty, but it was fortunate for the poor fellow that the first blow he
struck the bear felled him to the ground, and the soldier immediately
plunged his sword into his heart, which of course killed it. In those
northern countries, which are perpetually covered with snow and ice, a
species of bear is found, which is white in colour, and of amazing
strength as well as fierceness. These animals are often seen clambering
over the huge pieces of ice that almost cover those seas, and preying
upon fish and other sea animals. I remember reading an account of one
that came unexpectedly upon some sailors who were boiling their dinners
on the shore. This creature had two young ones with her, and the
sailors, as you may easily imagine, did not like such dangerous guests,
but made their escape immediately to the ship. The old bear then seized
upon the flesh which the sailors had left, and set it before her cubs,
reserving a very small portion for herself; showing by this, that she
took a much greater interest in their welfare than her own. But the
sailors, enraged at the loss of their dinners, levelled their muskets at
the cubs, and, from the ship, shot them both dead. They also wounded the
dam, who was fetching away another piece of flesh, but not mortally, so
that she was still able to move. But it would have affected any one with
pity, but a brutal mind (says the relation), to see the behaviour of
this poor beast, all wounded as she was and bleeding, to her young ones.
Though she was sorely hurt, and could but crawl to the place where they
lay, she carried the lump of flesh she had in her mouth, as she had done
the preceding ones, and laid it down before them, and, when she observed
that they did not eat, she laid her paws first upon one, and then upon
the other, and endeavoured to raise them up, all this while making the
most pitiful moans. When she found that they did not stir, she went away
to a little distance and then looked, back and moaned, as if to entice
them to her; but finding them still immovable, she returned, and
smelling round them, began to lick their wounds. She then went off a
second time as before, and, after c