THE ESKIMO AS A HUNTER 51 



The Eskimo rarely brings up more than three 

 or four dogs at the same time ; and if the litter is 

 larger than this number the rest are sold or given 

 away. The young dogs are carefully nursed, and 

 in winter they are allowed to lie on the couch, or 

 are hung up near the lamp in a skin cradle. When 

 almost four months old the pups are first put to 

 the sledge, and gradually they become accustomed 

 to pull with the others. If food is plentiful the 

 dogs are fed every alternate day, and then their 

 share is by no means a large one. In winter they 

 are fed with the heads, entrails, bones, and skins 

 of seals, and they are so voracious at this time of 

 the year that nothing is secure from their appetite. 

 Any kind of leather, particularly books, harness, 

 and thongs, is eaten whenever they can get at it. 

 In the spring they are better fed, and in summer 

 grow quite fat, but at any time of their life food 

 may not be procurable for five or six days. In 

 Cumberland Sound, Hudson Strait, and Hudson 

 Bay, where the rise and fall of the tide are con 

 siderable, the dogs are carried in summer to small 

 islands, where they live upon what they can find 

 on the beach : clams, codfish, etc., and if at liberty, 

 they seem very happy, and well able to provide 

 for themselves/ 



Dr. Boas remembers two runaway dogs which 

 had lived on their own account from April to 

 August, during which month they returned quite 

 fat. 



