174 LETTER 



THE GREENLAND DOG. 



This race of dogs is generally white; some, 

 ever, are spotted, and others black. The Pomeranian, 

 Siberian, Lapland, and Iceland dogs, as well as those 

 which run wild in America, are all somewhat similar 

 to the Greenland dogs in the sharpness of their muz- 

 zles, their long shaggy hair, and bushy tails; and all 

 have some resemblance to the shepherd's dog, but are 

 of a larger size. The Greenlanders, sometimes eafc 

 the!flesh of their dogs. They make garments of their 

 skins, and use them for drawing sledges, to which 

 they yoke them four, five, or six together. 



The dogs of Kamtschatka are nearly of the same 

 land : they are strong and active, and their colour i 

 commonly black and white. They are exceedingly 

 useful in drawing sledges, the only mode of travelling 

 in that country during the winter, and travel with 

 great expedition. Captain King relates, that during 

 his stay there, a courier with dispatches, performed in 

 a sledge drawn by dogs, a journey of 270 miles in less 

 than four days. According to Captain King's ac- 

 count, who gives a very interesting description of 

 these animals, they strongly resemble the Pomera- 

 nian, or wolf dog of Buftbn, except that they are 

 larger, and covered with coarser hair. That gentle- 

 man also says, that although they vary in colour, the 

 greatest number are of a light dun. 



Of the fleetness of these dogs, Captain King gives 

 the following account, in addition to the instance al- 

 ready mentioned: "We were ourselves witnesses," 

 ays"he, " of the great expedition with which the 

 messenger, who had been dispatched to Bolcheretsk 

 with the news of our arrival, returned to the harbour 

 of St. Peter and St. Paul, though the snow was at that 

 time exceedingly soft; and I was informed by the 

 commander of Kamtschatka, that this journey wa 

 generally performed in two days and a half; and that 

 he had once received an express from that place in 

 twenty-four hours, although the distance be not less 

 than one hundred and thirty miles. 



These useful animals are trained to this business of 



