3 o 4 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



The Dogs of Kamtfchatka are commonly black or 

 white. They are ftrong, nimble, and active ; and are 

 very ufeful in drawing fledges, the only method of tra- 

 velling in that dreary country during the winter. They 

 travel with great expedition. Captain King relates, that, 

 during his flay there, a courier with difpatches, drawn 

 by them, performed a journey of 270 miles in lefs than 

 four days. 



The fledges are ufually drawn by five Dogs, four of 

 them yoked two and two abreafl : The foremoft a£fcs as 

 leader to the reft. The reins being fattened to a collar 

 round the leading Dog's neck, are of little ufe in direct- 

 ing the pack ; the driver depending chiefly upon their 

 obedience to his voice, with which he animates them to 

 proceed, — Great care and attention are confequently ufed 

 in training up thofe for leaders, which are more valuable 

 according to their fteadinefs and docility ; the fum of 

 forty roubles, or ten pounds, being no unufual price for 

 one of them, — The rider has a crooked flick, anfwering 

 the purpofe both of whip and reins; with which, by 

 ftriking on the fnow, he regulates the fpeed of the Dogs, 

 or flops them at his pleafure. When they are inatten- 

 tive to their duty, he often chaflifes them by throwing it 

 at them. He difcovers great dexterity in regaining his 

 flick, which is the greatefl difficulty attending his fitua- 

 tion-, for if he fhould happen to lofe it, the Dogs imme- 

 diately difcover the circumflance, and feldom fail to fet 

 off at full fpeed, and continue to run till their ftrength is 

 exhaufted, or til| the carriage is overturned, and dafhed 

 to pieces, or hurried down a precipice. 



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