ESQUIMAUX DOGS, 443 
last took to the water in desperation, and succeeded in 
reaching the shore. From these came the “parvum 
pecus” that we saw. 
At Holsteinberg, however, the sledge is less neces- 
sary than further to the north. It is only when the 
winters are both long and close, for the state of the 
ice depends on the winds as well as temperature, that 
the Holsteinberger can make a run as far as Disco, 
In otlier seasons his dogs are used only for inner trav- 
el, along the peculiarly formed valleys, Avhich stretch 
back like the fiords to interior lakes. 
But there is a constant intercourse kept up by 
means of them between Omenak, Bittenbank, Cristian- 
shaab, Egedesminde, and Disco ; and for some three 
months, including January and February, they are 
able to follow the land-floe as far as Proven and Up- 
pernavik. At these last settlements the dogs are ex- 
ceedingly numerous. Our friend, the cooper at Pro- 
ven, had twenty-seven, and each of the stalwart sons 
of Cristiansen had a team of twelve. Large numbers 
besides thronged the outskirts, like their pariah breth- 
ren of Constantinople and the Nile. They do not 
bark : I distinguish between the bark and the howl ; 
and they have not the intelligent movement of the 
tail, which, like the fan of a Spanish seiiorita, I hold 
to be the most expressive and graceful of all the sub- 
stitutes for voice. I succeeded, after a while, in mak- 
ing my poor Disco greet me with her tail erect; but 
she died before she had learned to wag it. 
For the purposes of draught, the dogs are fastened 
by a simple breast-strap, eight, twelve, or even four- 
teen abreast — a single trace passing from each to a 
foot-board on the sledge. The long whip is the sub- 
stitute for reins : a sharp hiss, accompanied by the 
