DOGS AND SLEDGES 



them. Only trains made up of exceptional dogs last 

 more than a couple of seasons, and once their usefulness 

 is passed the poor brutes are turned loose to seek a living 

 where those for whom food is provided are more frequent- 

 ly hungry than satisfied. 

 Their vagrancy is i usually 

 short-lived death by star- 

 vation or freezing comes 

 speedily to their relief. 



The farther north, the 

 better the dogs and more 

 gaudy their harness and 

 trappings. They are al- 

 ways savage and suspicious 

 and noisy, but to the south, 

 towards La Biche, they are 

 miserable in body as well, 

 and are hitched to the 

 sledge with harness purely 

 Indian, and utterly devoid 

 of adornment. Curiously 

 enough, the Indian, who 

 likes to decorate his own 

 person, as a rule utterly 

 ignores that of his dog, 



though he may paint the moose-skin which covers the 

 head of his sledge, or hang tufts of hair or yarn upon 

 it, as he does sometimes on the toes of his snow-shoes. 

 All harness is made of moose-skin, but at Chipewyan and 

 north it is better fashioned, and there are, besides, loin- 

 cloths, called tapis, covered with bell and embroidery, and 

 vivid pompons stuck into the collars, and floating ribbons 

 of many contrasting colors. Add to this a driver in 

 beaded moccasins, leggings, and mittens, with a 



HAIS 7 D-WARMERS OF THE NORTH 



