208 THE ESQUIMAUX DOG. 



However, the big Dog happened to be a clever one, and spying a pailful of boiling tar, he 

 bolted towards it, and deliberately lowered his foe into the hot and viscous material. The 

 bull-dog had never calculated on such a reception, and made its escape as fast as it could run, 

 bearing with it a scalding memento of the occasion. 



The attachment which these magnificent Dogs feel towards mankind is almost unaccount- 

 able, for they have been often known to undergo the greatest hardships in order to bring 

 succor to a person whom they had never seen before. A Newfoundland Dog has been known 

 to discover a poor man perishing in the snow from cold and inanition, to dash off, procure 

 assistance, telling by certain doggish language of its own of the need for help, and then to 

 gallop back again to the sufferer, lying upon him as if to afford vital heat from his own body, 

 and there to wait until the desired assistance arrived. 



I might multiply anecdote upon anecdote of the wondrous powers of this spirited animal, 

 but must pass on to make room for others. 



There are two kinds of Newfoundland Dog ; one, a very large animal, standing some 

 thirty-two inches in height ; and the other, a smaller Dog, measuring twenty-four or twenty- 

 five inches high. The latter animal is sometimes called the Labrador Dog, and sometimes is 

 termed the St. John's Dog. When crossed with the setter, the Labrador Dog gives birth to 

 the Retriever. The large Newfoundland is generally crossed with the mastiff. 



There are few Dogs which are more adapted for fetching and carrying than the Newfound- 

 land. This Dog always likes to have something in its mouth, and seems to derive a kind of 

 dignity from the conveyance of its master's property. It can be trained to seek for any object 

 that has been left at a distance, and being gifted with a most persevering nature, will seldom 

 . yield the point until it has succeeded in its search. 



A rather amusing example of this faculty in the Newfoundland Dog has lately come 

 before my notice. 



A gentleman was on a visit to one of his friends, taking with him a fine Newfoundland 

 Dog. Being fond of reading, he was accustomed to take his book upon the downs, and to 

 enjoy at the same time the pleasures of literature and the invigorating breezes that blew freshly 

 over the hills. On one occasion, he was so deeply buried in his book, that he overstayed his 

 time, and being recalled to a sense of his delinquency by a glance at his watch, hastily 

 pocketed his book, and made for home with his best speed. 



Just as he arrived at the house, he found that he had inadvertently left his gold-headed 

 cane on the spot where he had been sitting, and as it was a piece of property which he valued 

 extremely, he was much annoyed at his mischance. 



He would have sent his Dog to look for it, had not the animal chosen to accompany a 

 friend in a short walk. However, as soon as the Dog arrived, Ms master explained his loss to 

 the animal, and begged him to find the lost cane. Just as he completed his explanations, 

 dinner was announced, and he was obliged to take his seat at table. Soon after the second 

 course was upon the table, a great uproar was heard in the hall ; sounds of pushing and 

 scuffling were very audible, and angry voices forced themselves on the ear. Presently, the 

 phalanx of servants gave way, and in rushed the Newfoundland Dog, bearing in his mouth 

 the missing cane. He would not permit any hand but his master's to take the cane from his 

 mouth, and it was his resistance to the attempts of the servants to dispossess him of his 

 master's property that had led to the skirmish. 



IT HAS BEEN mentioned that the Newfoundland Dog is employed during the winter 

 months in dragging carts of hewn wood to their destination, and that it is unkindly treated 

 by the very men who derive the most benefit from its exertions. 



The ESQUIMAUX DOG, however, spends almost its entire life in drawing sledges, or in 

 carrying heavy loads, being, in fact, the only beast of burden or traction in the northern parts 

 of America and the neighboring islands. Some, indeed, are turned loose at the beginning of 

 the summer, and many get their living as they can, until winter summons them back again to 

 scanty meals and perpetual toil. But many of the Esquimaux Dogs are retained in servitude 

 for the entire year, and during the summer months are called upon to give their aid in draught 



