44 REPORT ON THE INTRODUCTION OF 



before we got them separated I had been thrown under the reindeer 

 and did not get to my feet again until three of the dogs had hold of one 

 of the deer between the fore and hind legs. 



We finally got them separated, however, and upon examination I 

 found the only damage done was a few mouthsfull of hair that had been 

 pulled off from the side of one of the reindeer, and, after straightening 

 out the harness, we again started on our journey, none the worse oft 

 for our little excitement. The reindeer became quiet at once, and trav- 

 eled 20 miles further that day without apparent fatigue. 



In the various experiences I have had of this character, I have come 

 to the conclusion that the best thing to do at such a time is to get to 

 the heads of the reindeer and hold them by the head-stall with one 

 hand and beat back the dogs with the other. Standing at the heads 

 seems to give the reindeer confidence, and, when closely pressed, they 

 always face the dogs and are of considerable service in keeping them 

 back by striking with their fore feet. 



Thirty minutes further on our journey we were overtaken by a bliz- 

 zard, and had to remain at a native settlement for three days. There 

 were probably thirty persons here and as many dogs. The reindeer 

 were picketed out within 50 yards of the village during the whole time 

 we remained there, and, although some of the dogs were running loose, 

 not one ventured to disturb the deer. 



I will here state that, when traveling with reindeer, they are staked 

 out at night at the end of a seal rope about 50 or 60 feet long. One 

 end is securely tied about the neck of the reindeer and the other end 

 around a chunk or mound of earth that has first been chopped with a 

 hatchet so as to leave a head on it, over which the rope will not slip. 

 It is impossible to drive a stake into the ground in this country between 

 the 1st of November and the 1st or middle of May; it is frozen so hard. 

 Keindeer take kindly to the lariat, and several times I fastened reindeer 

 in this manner that had never spent a night away from the herd, and 

 they remained perfectly quiet. 



As soon as the storm abated, we continued on our journey to Cape 

 Prince of Wales settlement, the largest native settlement on the coast 

 for a distance of several hundred miles. Its inhabitants number about 

 000 persons, and it is safe to estimate the number of dogs to be 200. 

 They were nearly all ruuning loose on our arrival, and during our stay 

 there for eight days, although the reindeer were staked within a half a 

 mile of the village, which at times seemed alive with dogs, not an 

 instance occurred when they were molested. 



On a few occasions, one or two started towards the reindeer, but 

 were frightened back by some natives that saw them start. I will state 

 here that the dogs of the Eskimo are, as a rule, very poorly fed, and, 

 as they get little food except such as is given them by their owners, 

 whose constant struggle through the long winter months is to find food 

 sufficient to sustain life, it can be imagined that their dogs would enjoy 

 a feast of venison with a relish. 



