I 
124 SLEDGE-DKI Y I N G. 
Smith’s Sound, weighed but nine; and our average so 
far does not exceed seven and a half. They measure 
generally less by some inches in length than those 
noticed by Dr. Kichardson. Mr. Petersen is quite suc¬ 
cessful in shooting these hares: we have a stock of 
fourteen now on hand. 
“We have been building stone traps on the hills for 
the foxes, whose traces we see there in abundance, and 
have determined to organize a regular hunt as soon as 
they give us the chance. 
“October 8, Saturday.—I have been practising with 
my dog-sledge and an Esquimaux team till my arms 
ache. To drive such an equipage a certain proficiency 
with the whip is indispensable, which, like all pro¬ 
ficiency, must be worked for. In fact, the weapon has 
• an exercise of its own, quite peculiar, and as hard to 
learn as single-stick or broadsword. 
“ The whip is six yards long, and the handle but six¬ 
teen inches,—a short lever, of course, to throw out such 
a length of seal-hide. Learn to do it, however, with a 
masterly sweep, or else make up your mind to forego 
driving sledge; for the dogs are guided solely by the 
lash, and you must be able not only to hit any particu¬ 
lar dog out of a team of twelve, but to accompany the 
feat also with a resounding crack. After this, you find 
that to get your lash back involves another difficulty; 
for it is apt to entangle itself among the dogs and lines, 
or to fasten itself cunningly round bits of ice, so as to 
drag you head over heels into the snow. 
“ The secret by which this complicated set of require- 
