GREENLAND DOG. 174 



drawing the sledge when they are only whelps; and 

 although the most general mode is to yoke fivfe of 

 them together, two and two, with a leader, yet devia- 

 tions from this method take place according to cir- 

 cumstances. Mr. Leessop informs us, that he and M. 

 Kaslof, governor of Kamtschatka, set out from Bol- 

 cheretsk, with their baggage, in thirty-five sledges, 

 drawn by three hundred dogs, and that his sledge was 

 drawn by thirty-seven, and M. Kaslof's by forty-five 

 of these animals. They arrived at Ponstarisk with no 

 more than twenty-seven out of the whole number, 

 having lost all the rest by the hardships of the jour- 

 ney. From which circumstance we may conclude, 

 that the sufferings of these useful animals are on these 

 occasions very great. Mr. Lessop describes this mode 

 of travelling as very expeditious, but extremely trou- 

 blesome. He says, the dogs are sometimes very re- 

 fractory; and that on long journies it is almost impos- 

 sible to enjoy any repose, by reason of the excessive 

 howling which they make in the night. 



In the management of these dogs, great attention is 

 paid to the training of those that are designed for 

 leaders, which are valued in proportion to their stea- 

 diness and docility, and one of them is frequently sold 

 for forty rubles, or ten pounds sterling, a great sum 

 in that country. 



, In driving these sledges, the reins are fastened to a 

 collar put round the neck of the leading dog, and 

 consequently are of little use in directing the rest. 

 The driver has a crooked stick, answering the purpose 

 both of whip and rein, with which, by striking on the 

 snow, he regulates the speed of his dogs, Sometimes 

 he animates them to proceed by his voice ; and when 

 they are inattentive to their duty, he chastises them 

 by throwing his stick at them; but at the same time 

 he shews great dexterity in regaining it, which is the 

 greatest difficulty attending his art; for if he happen 

 to lose this instrument the dogs immediately discover 

 the circumstance, and seldom fail to set off at full 

 speed, continuing to run till their strength is exhaust- 

 ed, or the carnage overturned and dashed to pieces. 

 i 4 



