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233 
Voice ; if he strikes the ice with his stick* they will 
go to the left ; if lie strikes the legs of the sledge 
they will go to the right ; and when he wishes 
them to stop* he has only to place the stick between 
the snow and the front of the sledge. When they 
are inattentive to their duty* the charioteer often 
chastizes them by throwing this stick at them. 
The dexterity of the riders in picking it up again* 
is very remarkable* and is the most difficult ma- 
noeuvre in this exercise ; nor is it* indeed* surpris- 
ing that they should be skilful in a practice, in 
which they are so materially interested ; for the 
moment the dogs find that the driver has lost his 
stick* unless the leader is both steady and resolute* 
they set off at full speed* and never stop till either 
their strength is exhausted* or till the carriage 
is overturned and dashed to pieces* or hurried 
down a precipice* when all are buried in the 
snow. 
The manner in which they are generally treated* 
seems but ill calculated for securing their attach- 
ment. During the w inter they are fed sparingly 
with putrid fish ; and in summer are turned loose* 
to shift for themselves* till the return of the severe 
season renders it necessary to the master's interest 
that they should be taken again into custody* and 
brought once more to their state of toil and slavery. 
When yoking to the sledge they utter the most 
dismal howlings ; but* when every thing is pre« 
pared* a kind of cheerful yelping succeeds* which 
ceases the instant they begin their journey. 
These animals have been known to perforin* m 
three days and a half* a journey of almost two 
hundred and seventy miles. And scarcely ar© 
horses more useful to Europeans* than these dogs 
are to the inhabitants of the frozen and cheerless 
regions of the North. When* during the most 
severe storm* their master cannot see the path, nor 
vol. i, u h 
