33- HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



together.* The Dogs of Kamschatka are commonly 

 black or white. They are strong, nimble, and active, 

 and are very useful in drawing sledges, the only me- 

 thod of travelling in that dreary country during the 

 winter. They travel with great expedition. Captain 

 King relates, that during his stay there, a courier, 

 with dispatches, drawn by them, performed a 

 journey of 270 miles in less than four days. 



The sledges are usually drawn by five Dogs, four 

 of them yoked two and two abreast : the foremost 

 acts as a leader to the rest. The reins being 

 fastened to a collar round the leading Dog's neck, 

 are of little use in directing the pack; the driver 

 depending chiefly upon their obedience to his voice, 

 with which he animates them to proceed. Great 

 care and attention are consequently used in train- 

 ing up those for leaders, which are more valuable 

 according to their steadiness and docility, the sum 

 of forty roubles, or nine pounds, being no unusual 

 price for one of them. The rider has a crooked 

 stick, answering the purpose of both whip and 

 reins ; with which, by striking on the snow, he 

 regulates the speed of the Dogs, or stops them at 

 his pleasure. When they are inattentive to their 

 duty, he often chastises them by throwing it at 

 them. He discovers great dexterity in regaining 

 his stick, which is the greatest difficulty attending 

 his situation; for if he should happen to lose it, the 

 Dogs immediately discover the circumstance, and 

 never fail to set off at full speed, and continue to 

 run till their strength is exhausted, or till the car- 



* Five of these Dogs, that had escaped with their trappings, were 

 found in Greenland, and brought to this country, a few years ago, by 

 one of our ships in the fishery. 



