188 THEOUGH THE MACKENZIE BASIN" 



Sir William F. Butler, G.C.B., in his "Wild North Land." 

 During the winter of 1872-73, we travelled together from 

 Carlton House to Eort Chipewyan, and I had, therefore, 

 ample opportunities of witnessing the admirable qualities 

 of that fine animal. 



The mother of Keskayoo was barely a month old when I 

 bought her from an elderly Eskimo woman at Fort Anderson, 

 where she eventually developed into a small but compactly 

 built creature. Her first litter of pups consisted of three 

 males (one died of distemper months afterwards) and one 

 female, who subsequently became the mother of the unfor- 

 tunate dog eaten up by wolves on December 1, 1869. (The 

 two survivors made the long winter journey.) On this 

 occasion the mother appeared to suffer agonizing pain in 

 endeavouring to bring forth her first-born pup, but the ad- 

 ministration of a dessertspoon-ful of tincture of lavender 

 acted like a charm. The relief given was immediate, and 

 all four pups were born without delay.* Her next con- 

 finement, seven months later, was apparently easy. There 

 was but one male (Keskayoo) and two females. 



A more devoted and affectionate family of dogs I never 

 knew. In corroboration of this view I would mention a few 

 traits: The last litter was brought forth in a wooden ken- 

 nel within the fort stockades, during the season when In- 

 dians and Eskimos were frequent visitors, and some of their 

 hungry dogs would have no hesitation in devouring any 

 stray puppies; but for months after their birth one or more 

 of the first litter kept guard with the mother in protecting 

 the young puppies from this or any other danger. In fact, 

 they were never left alone during a period of several weeks, 

 but were always carefully watched. I cannot remember any 

 instances of quarrelling among themselves. On the con- 

 trary, they never failed to stand by each other when attacked 

 by strange dogs or when they themselves became aggressive. 



*I may here remark that I have personally known several cases 

 in which this medical preparation greatly aided both human and 

 canine mothers under similar circumstances. 



