,fj Qn Lidtan Dogs, 



and domefticated *. This opinion has been maintained by 

 other writers; but it is an opinion which mufl be admitted 

 with fome hmitation. I am, indeed, much inclined to be- 

 lieve that the Incjian dog, in many parts of North America, 

 was derived from the wolf; but it remains to be proved that 

 it is, in any part of the continent, the pure or unmixed wolf, 

 in a ftateof domefticatiou. It is, more probably, an hybrid 

 animal, begotten between the wolf and fome other animal, 

 perhaps the fox. Mr. Joflelyn, a long time ago, confidered 

 the dog of the New-England Indians as the produce of the 

 wolf and foxt. This is alfo the opinion of many well-in- 

 formed perfons who have refided among, or vifited, the In- 

 dians. I believe it is the opinion which many of the Indians 

 themfclves ent.v.'rtain concerning the origin of their dog. 



I have already obferved that the Indian dqg is fometimcs 

 palled the hqlj'-iuolf breed. This plainly Ihows that thofe 

 who have impofed this name did not view the American dog 

 as a mere domefticated wolf. In other words, it fliows tha^ 

 thev confidered him as an hybrid animal, I may add, that 

 Carver arid other writers, who have enjoyed pretty extenfive 

 opportunities of obferving the dogs of the Indians, merely 

 fpeak of their refemblance to the wolf, without pretending 

 to affert that they are only domefticated wolves J. 



Owing, however, to the great affinity which fubfifts be- 

 tween the Indian dog and the wolf, the favages in fome part.^ 

 of North Ainerica beltowed the fame name upon both of thefe 

 animals. Thus father Hepnepin exprefsly informs us, that, 

 chonga is a dog or wolf, in the language of the Ifliiti and 

 Naudoweffies. In general, however, the Indians apply dif- 

 ferent names to the wolf and to the dog, whether it be their 

 own (or native) dog, or thofe varieties which they have re- 

 ceived from the whites. I may add, that the Indians feeri^ 

 alfo to have remarked the refemblance of fome of their dogs 

 to the fox; for the Mohawks (or at leaft the Cochnewa- 

 gogs, who have fprung from the Mohawks) call the red fox 

 cheeis-h'jo. Now the Tufcaroras, who fpeak a dialect of the 

 lanc^iiage of the ^Iollawks, call a dog cheelh and cheetht. 

 Mijch dependence, however, lliould not be placed iipon thi? 

 application of names ; for favages fometimes beftow the fame 

 names upon fpecies that are unqueflionably diftindl. 



* Sec p. I. 



+ " The Indian dog is a creatqre begotten betwixt a woif and a fojr, 

 which the Indians lighting upon, bring up to hunt the deer with." Jof- 

 ffclyn's New England's Rarities, &c. p. 13. 



+ " The dogs empiovcd by the Indians in hunting appear tn be all of 

 ?he fame fpecies; they carry their ears ereft, and great'y refemble a wolf 

 ^bout the head." Thcfc arc Carver 3 words. See his Travels, &c. p.AiC'' 



We 



