353 



March 1892 Peary whilst on a sledge-journey observed a some 

 different procedure, which he describes as follows. "The bot- 

 toms of the runners (are first covered) with a continuous strip 

 of thick Avalrus hide, 2V2 inches wide, with the hair on. This 

 was fastened on by rawhide lashings passed through slits cut 

 in the edges. When this was frozen hard , a coating of snow 

 dipped in warm urine was applied and shaped and pressed 

 with the hands, until the entire length of the runner was cov- 

 ered three-fourths of an inch to an inch thick. This, in turn, 

 was allowed to freeze solid, and then chipped and smoothed 

 with a knife, and finally rubbed down with the hand dipped in 

 water" ^ 



Whilst the first expeditions usually met with small packs 

 of dogs it is now common for good hunters to have a consi- 

 derable number. A man like Samik has a score of dogs. A 

 single team may now consist of up to 12 dogs, though 6 — 8 

 is about the usual number. If a man has two teams, one of 

 them is often driven by a boy, a son or relative, who may 

 have almost the position of a servant. The method of driving 

 is highly developed and of the same kind as in West Green- 

 land. The team is directed with the long whip and with shouts 

 of definite meaning for stopping, turning to the one side and 

 the other, swifter movement, danger, bear and so on. These 

 signals are not common for all, but different for every one. 

 Each driver himself trains his dogs and teaches them his own 

 signals, so that it is very difficult for others to drive them. 



The Polar Eskimo dogs belong to a specially large, fine 

 and strong race, which however stands near to the sledge-dog 

 of West Greenland. In West Greenland the dogs are always 

 allowed to go loose about the settlement; among the Polar 

 Eskimos they are always tied up, and they are better and more 

 systematically fed than in the south. The natives are simply 



1 Northwaid etc. Vol. I, p. 228. 



