i 9 nl THE TWO ESQUIMAUX DOGS 379 
Snatcher on vague ideas of our remembrance of the shoes 
worn for lawn mowing. 
Besides the problem of the form of the shoes comes the 
question of the means of attachment. All sorts of sug- 
gestions were made last night as to both points, and the 
discussion cleared the air a good deal. I think that witli 
slight modification our present pony snow-shoes made on 
the grating or racquet principle may prove best after all. 
The only drawback is that they arc made for very soft 
snow and unnecessarily large for the Barrier ; this would 
make them liable to be strained on hard patches. The 
alternative seems to be to perfect the principle of the 
lawn mowing shoe, which is little more than a stiff bag 
over the hoof. 
Perhaps we shall come to both kinds : the first for the 
quiet animals and the last for the more excitable. I am 
confident the matter is of first importance. 
Monday, August 14. — Since the comparatively short 
storm of Friday, in which we had a temperature of - 30 0 
with a 50 m.p.h. wind, we have had two delightfully calm 
days, and to-day there is every promise of the completion 
of a third. On such days the light is quite good for three 
to four hours at midday and has a cheering effect on man 
and beast. 
The ponies arc so pleased that they seize the slightest 
opportunity to part company with their leaders and gallop 
off with tail and heels flung high. The dogs are equally- 
festive and are getting more exercise than could be given 
in the dark. The two Esquimaux dogs have been taken 
in hand by Clissold, as I have noted before. He now 
