AN EPIDEMIC AMONG THE DOGS. 195 



tory progress of events became disturbed by a series 

 of misfortunes which largely influenced the destinies 

 of the expedition, and which, by disarranging all of 

 my plans, caused me grave embarrassments. 



In a former chapter I have mentioned that a disease 

 had been, for several years, prevailing among the dogs 

 of Southern Greenland, and that a large proportion 

 of these useful animals had fallen victims to it. The 

 cause of this disease had not been determined, but I 

 was led to believe, from w^hat information I could 

 obtain, that it was purely of local origin, and that, 

 therefore, when I had removed my teams from the 

 seat of its influence I would be freed from its dangers. 

 Under this impression I had consumed much time at 

 the Danish-Esquimau settlements, in picking up here 

 and there a dog, until I had obtained thirty-six ani- 

 mals. Up to the first of December they remained 

 in perfect health ; and, being fed upon an abundant 

 allowance of fresh meat, I had great confidence that I 

 should be able to carry them through to the spring, 

 and, when the period of my sledge explorations should 

 arrive, that I would have four strong and serviceable 

 teams. My fears were for a time somewhat excited 

 by the information received from Hans, that the Es- 

 quimaux of Whale Sound and vicinity, with whom he 

 had been living, were heavy losers by the death of a 

 great number of their dogs, and the description which 

 he gave of this distemper corresponded with that of 

 Southern Greenland ; but November being passed 

 without any symptoms of the malady having made 

 its appearance in my splendid pack, I felt hopeful that 

 they would escape the visitation. The loss which 

 Dr. Kane had suffered by the death of his teams w^as 

 fresh in my recollection ; but for this there appeared 



