THE LYCISCAN GROUP. 703 



master returns to them. The leader, to whose guidance the 

 general conduct of the team is trusted, manifests surprising 

 docility, as if conscious of the trust reposed in him. He fol- 

 lows the course indicated to him, avoiding the places of dan- 

 ger, although every trace of the path is buried under fathoms 

 of ice ; and although vapour and falling snow darken the air, 

 so that he cannot see a foot before his eyes. When game 

 is started, the whole team set off at speed, that they may 

 bring the hunter within its reach, and themselves assist in 

 destroying it. It is then that the man loses his command 

 over his wild pack, so that the vehicle is dragged along with 

 frightful violence. The game pursued is of every kind, from 

 the Elk, the Reindeer, the Fox, the Otter, to the Polar Bear, 

 which last the dogs attack, or keep at bay, while the hunter 

 uses his spear. 



These dogs have an astonishing power of endurance. They 

 will travel with a loaded sledge sixty or seventy miles with- 

 out food. " A walrus," says Captain Lyon, " is frequently 

 drawn by throe or four of these dogs, and seals are some- 

 times carried home in the same manner, though I have in 

 some instances seen a dog bring home the greater part of 

 a seal in panniers placed across his back. The latter mode 

 of conveyance is often used in summer, and the dogs also 

 carry skins or furniture overland to the sledges, when their 

 masters are going on any expedition." ..." Cold has very 

 little effect on them, for, although the dogs at the huts 

 slept within the snow passages, mine at the huts had no 

 shelter, but lay alongside with the thermometer at 42 

 and 44, and with as little concern as if the weather had 

 been mild. I found, by several experiments, that three of 

 my dogs could draw me on a sledge weighing 100 Ib. at 

 the rate of one mile in six minutes ; and, as a proof of the 

 strength of a well-grown dog, my leader drew 196 Ib. singly, 

 and to the same distance, in eight minutes. At another time, 

 seven of my dogs ran a mile in four minutes, drawing a heavy 

 sledge full of men. Afterwards, in carrying stores to the 



