358 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS 



This breed of Dogs was originally brought from 

 the country of which they bear the name, where 

 their great strength and docility render them ex- 

 tremely useful to the settlers on those coasts, who 

 use them in bringing down wood from the interior 

 parts of the country to the sea side : three or four 

 of them yoked to a sledge will draw two or three 

 hundred weight of wood piled upon it, for several 

 miles, with great ease : they are not attended by a 

 driver, nor any person to guide them ; but after 

 having delivered their loading, they return imme- 

 diately to the woods, where they are accustomed to 

 be fed with dried fish, &c. 



The extraordinary sagacity of these Dogs, and 

 their attachment to their masters, render them 

 highly valuable in particular situations. 



During a severe storm, in the winter of 1789, a 

 ship, belonging to Newcastle, was lost near Yar- 

 mouth ; and a Newfoundland Dog alone escaped to 

 shore, bringing in his mouth the captain's pocket- 

 book. He landed amidst a number of people, 

 several of whom in vain endeavoured to take it 

 from him. The sagacious animal, as if sensible of 

 the importance of the charge, which in all prob- 

 ability was delivered to him by his perishing 

 master, at length leapt fawningly against the breast 

 of a man, who had attracted his notice among the 

 crowd, and delivered the book to him. The Dog 

 immediately returned to the place where he had 

 landed, and watched with great attention for every 

 thing that came from the wrecked vessel, seizing 

 them, and endeavouring to bring them to land. 



The following is another instance of their great 

 docility and strength of observation : A gentleman 

 walking by the side of the river Tyne, and observ- 



