196 ON THE BARRIER 



variety of study, than the Eskimo dog. From his 

 ancestor the wolf he has inherited the instinct of self- 

 preservation the right of the stronger in a far higher 

 degree than our domestic dog. The struggle for life 

 has brought him to early maturity, and given him such 

 qualities as frugality and endurance in an altogether 

 surprising degree. His intelligence is sharp, clear, and 

 well developed for the work he is born to, and the con- 

 ditions in which he is brought up. We must not call 

 the Eskimo dog slow to learn because he cannot sit up 

 and take sugar when he is told; these are things so 

 widely separated from the serious business of his life 

 that he will never be able to understand them, or only 

 with great difficulty. Among themselves the right of 

 the stronger is the only law. The strongest rules, and 

 does as he pleases undisputedly ; everything belongs to 

 him. The weaker ones get the crumbs. Friendship 

 easily springs up between these animals always com- 

 bined with respect and fear of the stronger. The 

 weaker, with his instinct of self-preservation, seeks the 

 protection of the stronger. The stronger accepts the 

 position of protector, and thereby secures a trusty 

 helper, always with the thought of one stronger than 

 himself. The instinct of self-preservation is to be found 

 everywhere, and it is so, too, with their relations with 

 man. The dog has learnt to value man as his bene- 

 factor, from whom he receives everything necessary for 

 his support. Affection and devotion seem also to have 



