u8 Chapter IV. 



and it was all that Trontheim and I with our united 

 strength could do to stop them just as they were going 

 into the water, although we shouted " Sass, sass," so that 

 it echoed over the whole of Khabarova. But at last we 

 got our team turned in another direction, and off we set 

 again merrily at such a pace that I had enough to do to 

 hold on. It was an extraordinary summer ride; and it 

 gave us a high opinion of the dogs' strength, seeing how 

 easily they drew two men over this, to put it mildly, bad 

 sledging ground. We went on board again well satisfied, 

 also the richer, by a new experience ; having learnt that 

 dog-driving, at any rate to begin with, requires much 

 patience. 



Siberian dog - harness is remarkably primitive. A 

 thick rope or a strap of sail-cloth passes round the animal's 

 back and belly. This is held in its place above by a piece 

 of cord attached to the collar. The single trace is 

 fastened under the belly, goes back between the legs, 

 and must often plague the animal. I was unpleasantly 

 surprised when I noticed that, with four exceptions, all 

 the dogs were castrated ; and this surprise I did not 

 conceal. But Trontheim on his side was at least equally 

 astonished, and informed me that in Siberia castrated 

 dogs are considered the best.* This was a disappoint- 

 ment to me, as I had reckoned on my canine family 



* The ordinary male dog is liable to get inflammation of the scrotum 

 from the friction of the trace. 



