THE ESQUIMAUX 



299 



In the form of their bodies, their short pricked ears, thick furry coat, and 

 bushy tail, the dogs of the Esquimaux so nearly resemble the wolf of these 

 regions, that when of a light or brindled color, they may easily at a little dis- 

 tance be mistaken for that animal ; but an eye accustomed to both, perceives 

 that the wolf always keeps his head down and his tail between his legs in run- 

 ning, whereas the dogs almost always carry their tails handsomely curled over 

 the back. Their hair in the winter is from three to four inches long ; but be- 

 sides this nature furnishes them during this rigorous season with a thick un- 

 der-coating of close, soft wool, which enables them to brave the most inclement 

 weather. They do not bark, but have a long melancholy howl, like that of the 

 wolf. When drawing a sledge, they have a simple harness of deer or seal skin 

 going round the neck by one bight, and another for each of the'^fore legs, with 

 a single thong leading over the back, and attached to the sledge as a trace. 

 Though they appear at first sight to be huddled together without regard to 

 regularity, considerable attention is really paid to their arrangement, particular- 

 ly in the selection of a dog of peculiar spirit and sagacity, who is allowed by a 

 longer trace to precede the rest as leader, and to whom, in turning to the right 

 or left, the driver usually addresses himself , using certain words as the carters 

 do with us. To these a good leader attends with admirable precision (espec- 

 ially if his own name be repeated at the same time), looking behind over his 

 shoulder with great earnestness, as if listening to the directions of the driver, 

 who sits quite low on the fore part of the sledge, his whip in hand, and his feet 

 overhanging the snow on one side. 



On rough ground, as among hummocks of ice, the sledge would be frequent- 

 ly overturned if the driver did not repeatedly get off, and, by lifting or draw- 

 ing it to one side, steer it clear of those obstacles. At all times, indeed, except 

 on a smooth and well-made road, he is pretty constantly employed thus with 

 his feet, and this, together with his never-ceasing vociferations and frequent 

 use of the whip, renders the driving of one of these vehicles by no means a 

 pleasant or easy task. 



" The whip, ' says Kane, who from assiduous practice at length attained a con- 

 siderable proficiency in its use, " is six yards long, and the handle but sixteen 

 inches — a short lever to throw out such a length of seal-hide. Learn to do it, 

 however, with a masterly sweep, or else make up your mind to forego driving 

 sledges ; for the dogs are guided solely by the lash, and you must be able to 

 hit not only any particular dog of a team of twelve, but to accompany the 

 feat also with a resounding crack. After this you find that, to get your lash 

 back, involves another difficulty ; for it is apt to entangle itself among the dogs 

 and lines, or to fasten itself cunningly round bits of ice, so as to drag you head 

 over heels into the snow. The secret by which this complicated set of require- 

 ments is fulfilled consists in properly describing an arc from the shoulder with 

 a stiff elbow, giving the jerk to the whip-handle from the hand and wrist alone. 

 The lash trails behind as you travel, and when thrown forward is allowed to 

 extend itself without an effort to bring it back. You wait patiently, after giv- 

 ing the projectile impulse, until it unwinds its slow length, reaches the end of its 

 tether, and cracks to tell you that it is at its journey's end. Such a crack on 



