1875 ESKIMO DOGS. 23 



fore ordered to return to England, Mr. G. Le Clerc 

 Egerton, sub-lieutenant, being appointed to super- 

 intend the issue of the provisions on board the * Alert/ 

 No serious disadvantage arose from this arrangement. 



On leaving Eitenbenk there were thirty Eskimo 

 dogs on the upper deck of the ' Alert ' and twenty-five 

 on board of the ' Discovery,' still further encumber- 

 ing the narrow gangways left available between the 

 piled-up provisions. My journal thus alluded to these 

 animals : ' Being in strange quarters they are baying 

 in concert, the distracting noise frequently diversified 

 by a sharp howl as a sailor in forcing his way through 

 their midst uses the toe of his boot. The packs 

 collected from different settlements are strangers to 

 each other. The king-dog of each team is necessarily 

 tied up, his subordinates of both sexes clustering 

 around, and crouching at his feet In their anxious 

 endeavours to protect their followers, the females of 

 whom are rather given to straying, and if possible to 

 maintain and extend their rights, these king-dogs are 

 straining their very utmost at the ropes, snarling and 

 lifting their upper lips, evidently longing for the time 

 to arrive when they may fight it out, and decide who 

 is to be ruler over all. By sheer fighting each has 

 worked his way up to the position he now holds, the 

 most determined and enduring animals gaining the 

 day. A long series of combats will be undertaken 

 before the supreme head is acknowledged, and here- 

 after many an attempt at revolution will be fought out 

 by rising aspirants for power, as the old chiefs become 

 worn out from age or other causes. It would appear 

 as if fighting were an enjoyment or natural condition 



