298 OTHER BEASTS OF BURDEN 
before nightfall. Two drivers sat on either side of 
the sledge, with knives to cut the harness of any dog 
that might stumble and be dragged to death, and the 
sledge was driven at perhaps the highest speed ever 
known. The dash of ten miles was accomplished in 
twenty-two and a half minutes. But creditable as such 
an achievement is to the half-starved descendants of 
the Arctic wolf, the strongest evidence against the use 
of the dog for general draught purposes is the fact, 
that wherever the surface, even in the snow regions, is 
sound and safe for any other creature than the light 
and active dogs, the reindeer, or, in the more southerly 
districts, the horse, at once takes its place. There is 
one exception, the great Thibetan mastiff, which 
stands apart. These dogs, the largest in size of any 
native and unimproved breed, cross the mountains 
regularly as beasts of burden, and bring their loads as 
far as Darjeeling. For size, courage, and general utility 
they are probably the finest race of dogs in the world. 
But as a rule in Asia the dog is the draught animal 
of the inferior races. Mr. Nordenskiold, in his voyage 
in the Vega to the Asiatic shore of the Behring Sea, 
noticed a marked difference between the “ Dog 
Chukchs,” the inhabitants of the coast, and the 
“ Reindeer Chukchs ” of the interior. The latter 
were better clothed and in better circumstances. 
Both showed great kindness to their animals, which 
is unusual among semi - savages. The “ Coast 
Chukchs ” always carried dog-shoes, neatly-made 
bags of soft leather, with straps attached, to put on 
