1-8 FARTHEST NORTH 



again merrily at such a pace that I had enough to do to 

 hold on. It was an extraordinary summer ride; and it 

 gave us a high opinion of the dogs' strength, seeing how 

 easily they drew two men over this, to put it mildly, bad 

 sledafino: o-round. We went on board a2;ain well satisfied, 

 also the richer by a new experience, having learnt that 

 dog-driving, at any rate to begin with, requires much 

 patience. 



Siberian dog-harness is remarkably primitive. A thick 

 rope or a strap of sail-cloth passes round the animals 

 back and belly. This is held in its place above by a piece 

 of cord attached to the collar. The single trace is 

 fastened under the belly, goes back between the legs, 

 and must often plague the animal. I was unpleasantly 

 surprised when I noticed that, with four exceptions, all 

 the dogs were castrated, and this surprise I did not 

 conceal. But Trontheim on his side was at least equally 

 astonished, and informed me that in Siberia castrated 

 dogs are considered the best.* This was a disappoint- 

 ment to me, as I had reckoned on my canine family 

 increasing on the way. For the present I sh*. ild just 

 have to trust to the four " whole " dogs and " Kvik," the 

 bitch I had brought with me from home. 



Next day, August ist, there was a great religious 

 festival in Khabarova, that of St. Elias. Samoyedes 

 from far and near had come in with their reindeer teams 



* The ordinary male dog is liable to get inflammation of the scro- 

 tum from the friction of the trace. 



