KAMTSCHADALE DOG. 

 NEW-ZEALAND DOG. 



This species, which seems originally to have been 

 brought from New Guinea, is likewise found in the So- 

 ciety islands, and pretty much resembles the shepherd's 

 cur In those islands they constitute the common food 

 of the inhabitants, who previously take great pains to 

 fatten them with vegetables. Europeans, who have so far 

 overcome their prejudices as to taste the flesh, have found 

 it sweet and palatable. However, the custom of eating 

 dog's flesh has not been confined to those islanders alone ; 

 for history informs us, that both the Greeks and Romans 

 fed on this viand, and the latter deemed young puppies a 

 proper offering to the gods. 



KAMTSCHADALE DOG. 



According to captain King, who gives a very interesting 

 account of this variety in Cook's third voyage, it strongly 

 resembles the Pomeranian or wolf-dog, except that it is 

 larger, and covered with a coarser hair. It varies in colour ; 

 but the prevailing one is a light dun, or a dirty cream. 



These very useful animals are employed in drawing 

 sledges over the snow, and are trained to this business 

 when puppies. Five of them (in pairs, with a leader) are 

 generally yoked to a sledge of peculiar construction, capa- 

 ble of carrying a passenger besides the driver, who is 

 provided with a crooked stick, which answers the double 

 purpose of whip and reins. 



Of the fleetness of these dogs we have unquestionable 

 evidence, as well as of their extraordinary patience under 

 the combined hardships of hunger and fatigue. "We 

 were ourselves witnesses," says captain King, "of the 

 great expedition with which the messenger who had been 

 dispatched to Balcheretsk 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 was generally performed in two days and a half ; 



