196 PASTORAL DOGS, ETC. 



they are entirely at liberty to do what they like, being only re- 

 strained by the voice of their master and urged forward by his 

 whip. A single dog of tried intelligence and fidelity is placed 

 as leader, and upon him the driver depends for his orders being 

 obeyed. In the summer they are most of them turned off to get 

 their own subsistence by hunting, some few being retained to 

 carry weights on their backs ; sledges are then rendered useless 

 by the absence of snow ; and as there is a good subsistence for 

 them from the offal of the seal and the walrus which are taken 

 by the men, the dogs become fat at this season of the year. The 

 Siberian and Greenland dogs are nearly similar to those of 

 Kamtschatka, but somewhat larger, and also more manageable, 

 all being used in the same way. The Esquimaux dog is about 

 22 or 23 inches high, with a pointed, fox-like muzzle, wide head, 

 pricked , ears, and wolf-like aspect ; the body is low and strong, 

 and clothed with long hair, having an under-coat of thick wool ; 

 tail long, gently curved, and hairy ; feet and legs strong and well 

 formed ; the colour is almost always a dark dun, with slight dis- 

 position to brindle, and black muzzle. 



IX.— ICELAND AND LAPLAND DOGS. 



These are nearly similar to the Esquimaux, but rather larger, 

 more wolf-like, and far less manageable. 



