THE ESQUIMAUX DOG. 471 



considered a most fortunate circumstance for the inhabitants that canine madness, or 

 hydrophobia, are neither of them ever known in regions of so much frigidity. Yet it is 

 somewhat remarkable that in Sweden madness sometimes seizes the wolf, and the consequences 

 are frequently dreadful ; the symptoms are the same with those attendant upon the madness 

 of a dog ; fury sparkles in their eyes, a viscid ropy saliva drivels from the mouth, the tail 

 is carried low, and they are always equally disposed to bite either man or beast ; but as this 

 disease happens mostly in the depth of winter, it cannot, of course, be attributed to the 

 raging heat of the dog-days. 



" It is by different writers considered singular that the race of European dogs show an 

 antipathy as strong to the Kamtschatkan and American species as to the wolf itself. They 

 never meet but the European dogs show all signs of dislike, will fall on and worry them ; 

 whilst the wolfish breed, with every mark of timidity, endeavours to avoid the others' rage. 

 This aversion to the wolf is natural to the whole canine species ; and it is a matter generally 

 known, that a whelp who has never seen a wolf will, at first sight, tremble, and make to its 

 master for protection ; but an old dog will instantly attack it. It is well authenticated that 

 the dogs of Kamtschatka are of wolfish descent, for wolves abound in that country, in all parts 

 of Siberia, and even under the Arctic circle ; their colour is black-and-white, they are strong 

 and active, and are used for drawing sledges over the frozen snow. They are in size and 

 shape little different from the large Russian Boor-dogs, and are held to be the best and 

 most long-winded runners of all the dogs in Siberia. So incredibly great is their spirit, that 

 they frequently dislocate their joints in drawing ; and their hair is often tinged with red, from 

 the extravasation of blood occasioned by violent exertions. The ordinary loading of four dogs 

 amounts to five or six poods, and a single man can in this manner, in bad roads, go thirty or 

 forty, but, in good roads, eighty to a hundred and forty versts in a day. The taste for dogs 

 is as great here as it is for horses elsewhere, and considerable sums are not unfrequently 

 expended in the purchase of them, and the elegance of their trappings. 



" The natives of this peninsula always travel in sledges. The length of the body of the 

 sledge is about four feet and a half, and the breadth one foot ; it is made in the form of a 

 crescent, of light tough wood, fastened together with wicker-work, and those of the principal 

 people are elegantly stained with red and blue, the seat being covered with furs, or bear-skins. 

 It has four legs, about two feet in height, resting on two flat long pieces of wood, of the 

 breadth of five or six inches, which extend a foot beyond the body of the sledge at each end. 

 These turn up before, something like a skate, and are shod with the bone of some sea animal. 

 The carriage is ornamented at the fore part with tassels of coloured cloth and leather thongs. 

 It has a cross-bar, to which the harness is joined ; and links of iron or small bells are hanging 

 to it, which, by the jingling, is supposed to encourage the dogs. They seldom carry more 

 than one person at a time, who sits aside, with his feet on the sledge, having his baggage 

 and provisions in a bundle behind him. The usual number of dogs employed in drawing this 

 carriage is four, though they very lately have begun to use five. The reins being fastened to 

 the collar, instead of the head, have no great command, and are, therefore, usually hung upon 

 the sledge, the driver depending principally upon their obedience to his voice. Great care 

 and attention are consequently used in training up the leader, which frequently becomes very 

 valuable on account of his steadiness and docility, the sum of 40 roubles (or 10) being 

 no unusual price for one of them. The driver has also a crooked stick, answering the purpose 

 of both stick and reins, with which, by striking in the snow, he can regulate the speed of the 

 dogs, or even stop them at pleasure. When they are inattentive to their duty, he often 



