ESQUIMAUX DOG. 
60 
Captain Lyon had eleven of these Dogs, which he says “ were large and 
even majestic looking animals ; and an old one, of peculiar sagacity , was 
placed at their head by having a longer trace, so as to lead them through 
the safest and driest places.” “ The leader was instant in obeying the 
voice of the driver, who never beat, but repeatedly called to him by name. 
When the Dogs slackened their pace, the sight of a seal or a bird was 
sufficient to put them instantly to their full speed ; and even though none 
of these might be seen on the ice, the cry of ‘ a seal !’ 1 a bear ! a 
bird !’ &c., was enough to give play to the legs and voices of the whole 
pack. It was a beautiful sight to observe the two sledges racing at full 
speed to the same object, the Dogs and men in full cry, and the vehicles 
splashing through the holes of water with the velocity and spirit of rival 
stage-coaches. There is something of the spirit of professed whips in these 
wild races ; for the young men delight in passing each other s sledge, and 
jockeying the hinder one by crossing the path. In passing on different 
routes the right hand is yielded, and should an inexperienced driver 
endeavour to take the left, he would have some difficulty in persuading his 
team to do so. The only unpleasant circumstance attending these races 
is, that a poor dog is sometimes entangled and thrown down, when the 
sledge, with perhaps a heavy load, is unavoidably drawn over his 
body. 
“ The driver sits on the fore part of the vehicle, from whence he jumps, 
when requisite, to pull it clear of any impediments which may lie in the 
way ; and he also guides it by pressing either foot on the ice. The voice 
and long whip answer all the purposes of reins, and the Dogs can be made 
to turn a corner as dexterously as horses, though not in such an orderly 
manner, since they are constantly fighting ; and I do not recollect to have 
seen one receive a flogging without instantly wreaking his passion on the 
ears of his neighbours. The cries of the men are not more melodious than 
those of the animals ; and their wild looks and gestures, when animated, 
give them an appearance of devils driving wolves before them. Our Dogs 
had eaten nothing for forty-eight hours, and could not have gone over less 
than seventy miles of ground ; yet they returned to all appearance as fresh 
and active as when they first set out.” 
These Dogs curl the tail over the hip in the manner of house dogs gene- 
rally. 
Our drawing was made from a fine living Dog in the Zoological Garden 
at London. Some have since been brought to New York alive by the ships 
fitted out and sent to the polar seas in search of the unfortunate Sir John 
Franklin and his party by Mr. Henry Grinnell, of that city. 
