19"] SLEDGING NECESSITIES 109 



time. Let it be supposed that 4 oz. per day per man might 

 conceivably be saved. We have then a 3 lbs. a day saved in the 

 camp, or 63 lbs. in the three weeks, or T ^ th part of our present 

 loads. 



The smallness of the fractions on which the comfort and 

 physical well-being of the men depend is due to the fact of 

 travelling with animals whose needs are proportionately so much 

 greater than those of the men. It follows that it must be sound 

 policy to keep the men of a sledge party keyed up to a high 

 pitch of well-fed physical condition as long as they have animals 

 to drag their loads. The time for short rations, long marches 

 and carefullest scrutiny of detail comes when the men are de- 

 pendent on their own traction efforts. 



6 p.m. It has been blowing from the S.W., but the wind is 

 dying away the sky is overcast I write after 9 hours' sleep, 

 the others still peacefully slumbering. Work with animals means 

 long intervals of rest which are not altogether easily occupied. 

 With our present routine the dogs remain behind for an hour or 

 more, trying to hit off their arrival in the new camp soon after 

 the ponies have been picketed. The teams are pulling very 

 well, Meares' especially. The animals are getting a little fierce. 

 Two white dogs in Meares' team have been trained to attack 

 strangers they were quiet enough on board ship, but now bark 

 fiercely if anyone but their driver approaches the team. They 

 suddenly barked at me as I was pointing out the stopping place 

 to Meares, and Osman, my erstwhile friend, swept round and 

 nipped my leg lightly. I had no stick and there is no doubt that 

 if Meares had not been on the sledge the whole team, follow- 

 ing the lead of the white dogs, would have been at me in a 

 moment. 



Hunger and fear are the only realities in dog life : an empty 

 stomach makes a fierce dog. There is something almost alarm- 

 ing in the sudden fierce display of natural instinct in a tame 

 creature. Instinct becomes a blind, unreasoning, relentless pas- 

 sion. For instance the dogs are as a rule all very good friends 

 in harness: they pull side by side rubbing shoulders, they walk 

 over each other as they settle to rest, relations seem quite peace- 

 ful and quiet. But the moment food is in their thoughts, how- 

 ever, their passions awaken; each dog is suspicious of his neigh- 

 bour, and the smallest circumstance produces a fight. With like 



