MAMMALIA. Te 
immense length, having a lash of from eighteen to twenty-four feet, while the 
handle is of one foot only. With this, by throwing it on one side or the other of 
the leader, and repeating certain words, the animals are guided or stopped. 
Wah-aya, aya, whooa, to the right. A-wha, a-wha, a-whut, to the left. A-look, 
turn, and whooa, stop. When the sledge is stopped, they are all taught to lie 
down, by throwing the whip gently over their backs, and they will remain in this 
position even for hours, until their master returns to them. A walrus is frequently 
drawn along by three or four of these dogs, and seals are sometimes carried home 
in the same manner; though I have in some instances seen a dog bring home 
the greater part of a seal in panniers placed across his back. The latter mode of 
conveyance is often used in summer, and the dogs also carry skins or furniture 
overland to the sledges when their masters are going on any expedition. It 
might be supposed that in so cold a climate these animals had peculiar periods 
of gestation, like the wild creatures ; but, on the contrary, they bear young at every 
season of the year, and seldom exceed five at a litter. Cold has very little 
effect on them ; for, although the dogs at the huts slept within the snow passages, 
mine at the ships had no shelter, but lay alongside, with the thermometer 
at 42° and 44°, and with as little concern as if the weather had been mild. 
I found, by several experiments, that three of my dogs could draw me on a 
sledge, weighing 100lbs., at the rate of one mile in six minutes ; and as a proof 
of the strength of a well-grown dog, my leader drew 196lbs. singly, and to the 
same distance, in eight minutes. At another time, seven of my dogs ran a mile in 
four minutes, drawing a heavy sledge full of men. Afterwards, in carrying stores 
to the Fury, one mile distant, nine dogs drew 161Ilbs., in the space of nine 
minutes. My sledge was on runners neither shod nor iced; but had the runners 
been iced, at least 40lbs. might have been added for each dog.” 
In another passage Captain Lyon says, ‘‘ Our eleven dogs were large, and even 
majestic looking animals; and an old one, of peculiar sagacity, was placed at 
their head by having a longer trace, so as to lead them through the safest and 
driest places ; these animals having such a dread of water, as to receive a severe 
beating before they would swim a foot. The leader was instant in obeying the 
voice of the driver, who never beat, but repeatedly called to him by name. When 
the dogs slackened their pace, the sight of a seal or bird was sufficient to put them 
instantly to their full speed ; and even though none of these might be seen on the 
ice, the cry of ‘a seal !'—‘a bear!’—‘a bird!’ &c., was enough to give play to the 
legs and voices of the whole pack. It was a beautiful sight to observe the two 
sledges racing at full speed to the same object, the dogs and men in full cry, and 
