Page:Polar Exploration - Bruce - 1911.djvu/119

Rh Although there have been many narrow escapes from polar bears, it is doubtful if there is any authentic record of a man being killed by a bear. Dr. Börgen, of the German Polar Expedition in 1869–70, had perhaps one of the most marvellous escapes that has ever been recorded. Dr. Börgen was knocked down by a bear that seized him by the head in its jaws and carried him off. The bear and its victim were followed, and the bear ultimately shot. Dr. Börgen received a very severe scalp wound, as well as wounds on the arm and hand, from which, however, he soon miraculously recovered, as already stated. The bear seldom comes to the land as long as he can get plenty of seals on the sea ice; he will only come if he knows of a short cut across some land or glacier to get from one feeding-ground to another, or he will come to eat grass as a dog does when he is not feeling well. He may also come to land if there is a human encampment, being attracted by the smell; and this habit is so well known that hunters when ashore or on board a ship will burn seal or bear fat, and if there is a bear to leeward he is sure to come up to the encampment or ship. In this way about 120 bears were seen and 69 were shot in Franz Josef Land during 1894–97, by the Jackson-Harmsworth Expedition. When hungry, a bear will eat anything. Kœttlitz found seal, grass, seaweed,