ABSTRACT
Onthe8th,thewindN.W.,withdrift-snow.To-day, anumberofbearscongregatedbehindourtentinthe valley,wherelaythecarcassofawhale;towardsevening, whenthemoonwasbeginningtorise,wesawvarious partiesofthesebearsdepartingfromtheband,sometimes three,four,orsixtogether,growlingastheywentaround andpastourtent,whilstthreemadetheir\vayacrossthe timber-heaps.Oneofthem,jumpingoverthesternof theshallop,smeltatthemeatthatwashangingtothe mast,andwashitinthebodywithadoublechargebyour Norwegian;neverthelessheescaped.Shortlyafterwards, anothercameup,andwassohitbyourcompanythathe remainedlyinginthesameplace;wepiercedhisbody withalanceortwo;butasitwasSunday,wedidnot disembowelhim.Thewholeofthedayandnightwe havehadsomanybearsaroundourtent,makingsucha terriblenoisebytheirgrowling,thatifithadbeen continuouslynight,wewouldhavebeeninconstantfear.
