58 THE LIFE OF E. J. PECK 



just missed the actual entrance to the river. 

 Two miles out, of course, after so perilous and 

 difficult a journey, was a very trifling matter; 

 yet, though very few, even natives would have per- 

 sisted in facing the drift as they had done, their 

 chagrin at missing the actual mark was great, and 

 they were not spared the mirth of their chaffing 

 countrymen whom they found at the post, and to 

 whom they frankly confessed their blunder. 



The dogs are a very important feature in the life 

 and occupation of an Eskimo. They vary in num- 

 ber, according to the wealth of the owner and his 

 ability to keep them from starving. Each dog has 

 a separate harness. This is generally made of seal- 

 skin. One part is fitted over the dog's head : two 

 other pieces go over the chest and under the fore- 

 legs, and are joined together at the back of the dog. 

 At the point of junction is attached the peto, which 

 is a very strong line or trace, fastened to the sledge. 

 These traces are not all the same length, but they 

 are tied so that the leading dog is well in advance of 

 the one coming after. 



" Dog driving," says Mr. Peck, " is certainly 

 enough to try the patience of any man. The long 

 seal lines by which the dogs are attached to the 

 sledge often become a perfect tangle, caused by 

 the habit of the animals of wildly rushing about 

 from one side to the other, especially when they 

 imagine the long whip, which the Eskimo driver 



