SLEDGE-DOGS 79 



keep the dogs under control. They are driven in 

 teams of twelve or more, being- attached to the sledge 

 one in front of the other, and sometimes in pairs. 

 The driver has no reins to guide them ; this he does 

 by means of his voice, to whose different intonations 

 the leading dog, generally the cleverest of the team, 

 is perfectly accustomed, and hardly ever mistakes 

 right or left. Sledge-dogs never go at a walking pace ; 

 the difficulty consists in starting them all at the same 

 moment. As soon as they are on the move, they 

 follow each other at a sharp trot, and can go for many 

 miles without stopping, rendering this means of loco- 

 motion a very fast one. The driver invariably carries 

 an ostog; or iron-shod stick, which he uses for halting, 

 fixinof it firmlv into the ground. If one of the doo-s 

 becomes troublesome in any way, the oshig is hurled 

 at him, the sharj) point of the stick never missing its 

 aim, and is picked up again at full speed. Sledge-dogs 

 are fed entirely on fish, but they prefer reindeer meat. 

 If by chance a native happens to be driving reindeer 

 in front, and the dogs get their wind, they will start 

 off at a frantic gallop, and catching up the reindeer, 

 will tear them to pieces like a famished pack of 

 wolves. It is then almost impossible to stop them. 

 At other times, when passing a yu)i where a reindeer 

 has just been gralloched, they will dash aside and in 



