192 BERING ISLAND. [chap 



us on the banks of the little river, into which the dogs were kicked 

 with scant ceremony to find their way across to the farther side. 

 Halfway over they got entangled with the sledges and one another, 

 and when to the ignorant European bystander they appeared three- 

 parts drowned, an Aleut who had been placidly watching matters 

 from the bank walked into the icy water and drew therefrom a 

 sledge with a large bunch of dogs attached, I have seen a Cape 

 cart and six horses " demahaar " with a mixed harness composed of 

 raw hide, rope, and leather, the whole an indistinguishable 

 mass of kicking legs ; but I do not think I have ever seen a prettier 

 mess than our teams exhibited on gaining the bank. Without the 

 aid of a knife it looked hopeless, but sledge-travelling is, I believe, 

 full of little incidents of this kind, and it was not long before the 

 delinquents were unknotted and we had commenced our journey. 

 However wearisome it may be for Uas^s Arctic explorers, there 

 is no doubt that, with the proper accompaniments of a bright sun 

 and sharp air, travelling by dog -sledge is one of the most ex- 

 hilaratinfr of all forms of locomotion. Somewhat back-breaking it is, 

 no doubt, for the sledge — a mere framework of planks six feet by two, 

 elevated some six inches from the ground — is without any support 

 for the occupant to lean against, and the tyro has to keep his 

 position as best he can by means of the small side rail. The driver 

 runs by the side, steering the dogs by word of mouth, and throwing 

 his stick with unerring aim at any lazy or obstreperous member of 

 the team. The sledge-dogs in Kamsehatka have on the whole a 

 hard time, but the Long Vacation which all of them enjoy during 

 the summer atones for it. But here the wretched animals have to 

 work throughout the year, and are treated with no tender hand by 

 their master. If they can be kicked into their proper places, this 

 seems to the unsophisticated mind of the native by far the simplest 

 method to adopt ; and the mode of chastisement in use^that of 

 holding the dog down and pounding him on the head with a heavy 

 stone — is most certamly effectual, though to an Englishman it is 

 by no means a pleasing sight. 



