XL] 
A FROZEN DOG. 
11 
a storm with drifting snow and a cold of --36°. To be out in 
such weather is not good even for a Chukch dog. Of this we 
had confirmation the next day, when a Chukch who had lost his 
way came on board, carrying a dog, frozen stiff, by the backbone, 
like a dead hare. He had with his dog gone astray on the ice 
and lain out, without eating anything, in a snow-drift for the 
night. The master himself had suffered nothing, he was only 
hungry, the dog on the other hand scarcely showed any sign of 
life. Both were naturally treated on board the Vaga with great 
commiseration and kindness. They were taken to the ’tween- 
decks, where neither Ghukches nor Chukch dogs were otherwise 
admitted; for the man an abundant meal was served of what we 
believed he would relish best, and he was then allowed, pro¬ 
bably for the first time in his life, to sleep if not under a sooty, 
at least under a wooden roof. The dog was for hours carefully 
subjected to massage, with the result that he came to life again, 
which struck us, and, as it appeared, not least the Chukch 
himself, as something wonderful. 
In the beginning of March there passed us a large number of 
sledges laden with reindeer skins, and drawn by eight to ten 
dogs each. Every sledge had a driver, and as usual the women 
took no part in the journey. These trains were on a commercial 
journey from Irkaipij to Pak at Behring’s Straits. We found 
among the foremen many of our acquaintances from the preced¬ 
ing autumn, and I need not say that this gave occasion to a 
special entertainment, for the people, bread, a little spirits, soup, 
some sugar, and tobacco, for the dogs, ]3emmican. Conversation 
during such visits became very lively, and went on with little 
hindrance, since two of us were now somewhat at home in the 
Chukch language. For if I except two men, Menka and Noah 
Elisej, who could talk exceedingly defective Russian, there was 
not one of the reindeer or dog-foremen travelling past who could 
speak any European language, and notwithstanding this they 
all carry on an active commerce with the Russians, But the 
