730 THE WORLD S WONDERS. 



accomplished, he desired no more, and his rueful face brought 

 the mirth of the party again upon him." 



ATTACKED BY DOGS. 



DR. HAYES fared well enough among the Esquimaux themselves, 

 but he had a very narrow escape from a pack of their dogs, which 

 beset him. It is a common thing for them to keep their dogs 

 without food for two days, at the end of which time they become 

 so ravenously hungry as to take upon themselves the nature of 

 wolves. The dogs are tied to stakes by long traces, made of 

 seal-skin, which they sometimes eat. In the adventure alluded 

 to, Hayes was returning to the encampment from a visit to his 

 boats ; a furious snow-storm was prevailing, which almost blinded 

 him, so that he unconsciously came within reach of the tied pack. 

 The dogs set on him most savagely, and would undoubtedly have 

 devoured him but for a long whip which fortunately was within 

 reach. With this he laid about him so vigorously as to repel 

 their attack, though not without receiving several severe bites. 

 A little child or disabled person is never safe among Esquimau 

 dogs, and Hayes mentions two instances, one of a child, the other 

 a woman, in which these dogs killed and devoured their victims 

 in the midst of a very considerable camp. 



A DASHING ESQUIMAU WIDOW. 



THERE are dashing widows, though extremely rare, among the 

 Esquimaux, for it is the usual custom with them to make the 

 funeral-baked meats furnish forth the wedding feast. Hayes, 

 however, was fortunate enough to see a dashing that is to say, 

 vivacious widow, though her attractions were somewhat marred 

 by the fact that she was neither young nor pretty, but she had a 

 "fellow" on her string nevertheless. The couple came to visit 

 Hayes' camp, she with an arm fun of frozen auks, and her lover 

 carrying a large chunk of walrus meat. With the courtesy 

 becoming his sex, Dr. Hayes tendered the widow the use of his 

 cooking apparatus, which she politely declined, preferring to eat 

 her meat raw, but to show her appreciation for the friendly offers 

 made by Hayes, she proffered to share her small store of birds 



