OTHER BEASTS OF BURDEN 299 
their dogs’ feet if cut by the sharp snow. The herd 
of a “ Reindeer Cutch ” came down from the pasture 
every morning to meet their master. The leading 
stag came first, and bade him good-morning by 
gently rubbing his nose against his master’s hands. 
All the other deer were then allowed to do the same, 
the master taking each by the horn, and carefully 
examining its condition. The inspection over, the 
herd then wheeled, and returned to the pasture. It 
would be difficult to name another beast of burden so 
tame and so efficient as the reindeer. A good rein- 
deer will travel one hundred miles a day over frozen 
snow, and can draw a weight of three hundred pounds ; 
thus surpassing the dog by one-half in distance and 
two-thirds in drawing power. The loads carried by 
the camels of the Heavy Camel Corps across the 
Bayuda Desert were very little heavier than those 
drawn by the reindeer across the Northern steppes. 
Including the rider, the average weight was about 
three hundred and forty-two pounds. Even so, 
they were over-weighted, and the little Egyptian horses 
ridden by the Hussars, who accompanied the column, 
were less exhausted than the larger beasts when the 
forced march was completed. The llama, admirable 
as it was for climbing the step-roads of the Incas, 
which ruined Pizarro’s horses, is only an inferior 
camel ; and the yak, Thibetan goat, and buffalo are 
highly specialized forms, suited to particular climates 
and conditions. The water-buffalo is the one domestic 
animal which evolves the enthusiasm and affection of 
