ESKIMOS AT HOME AND AT WORK 59 



uses with such skill, is on its way through the air 

 for their particular benefit. If the hauling lines are 

 not cleared in time, a hopeless muddle ensues. One 

 or more of the tails of the dogs will become entangled 

 in the lines, another will get his foot tied up, and so 

 on, until the howling and yapping becomes some 

 thing fearful, and the sledge is stopped, the dogs are 

 liberated from their several plights, the lines are 

 cleared once more, and all is fair sailing. 



The difficulty a European experiences in driving 

 a sledge and Eskimo team of dogs is well described 

 by Kane in his book on Arctic exploration. 



*' I have been practising till my arms ache. To 

 drive such an equipage a certain proficiency with 

 the whip is indispensable ; which, like all profi 

 ciency, must be worked for. In fact, the weapon 

 has an exercise of its own, quite peculiar, and as 

 hard to learn as single-stick or broadsword. 



" The whip is six yards long, and the handle but 

 16 inches a short lever, of course, to throw out 

 such a length of seal hide. Learn to do it, however, 

 with a masterly sweep, or else make up your mind 

 to forego driving sledge ; for the dogs are guided 

 solely by the lash, and you must be able to hit not 

 only one particular dog, one of a team of twelve, but 

 to accompanj' the feat also with a resounding crack. 

 After this you will find that to get your lash back 

 involves another difficulty ; for it is apt to entangle 

 itself among the dogs and lines, or to fasten itself 



