BOGS, USED IN DRAWING SLEDGES. 
63 
the equator. At the period of the first Kamtschatkish expe¬ 
dition, about 50 years ago, some honied cattle were transported 
hither, which we might suppose would have considerably multi¬ 
plied with proper care. It is impossible to find a place more 
fitted for breeding cattle than Kamtschatka. It has a number of 
enclosures, particularly in the vicinity of Petropaulowsk, by the 
rivers Awatska and Paratunka, which yield an excellent pasture 
of tall and nutritious grass, well calculated to give the fiesh a 
delicious flavour. 
On the approach of winter, the inhabitants are busied with 
putting their sledges in order, and tying up their dogs, to fit 
them for drawing, as they are in fine weather allowed to run 
loose. Sledges and dogs are in general use here, both for tra¬ 
velling and conveyance. Mr. Hall, and I also, furnished our¬ 
selves with one, taking at first only small journies with three 
dogs; but growing bolder afterwards, as our skill increased, we 
ventured with five dogs, over the mountains, to the dwelling- 
place of Paratunka, 25 versts distant from Petropaulowsk. 
The sledges here differ very considerably from those of 
Ochotsk, being shorter, smaller, lighter, and much higher. They 
will scarcely hold two, and are very unsteady on account of their 
monstrous height. In descending any hill, the utmost care and 
dexterity is requisite, to keep the feet and the oschtol in the 
proper direction; for the smallest oversight of this kind may 
cost a person his life, as has been the case with even experienced 
drivers, who have been dashed to pieces against the trees lying 
in the way. 
The management of the dogs is no less difficult and danger¬ 
ous here than at Ochotsk; for they are equally apt to become 
ungovernable on the scent of any animal. In order to stop 
them, they drive the oschtol between the front sledge of the 
conveyance as far into the snow as possible, and always keep the 
two fore dogs in a tight rein, that none may be able to run away. 
When the declivity of any mountain is unusually steep and dan¬ 
gerous, they bind birch-twigs round the bottom of the sledge, 
to impede its course. The cry of ko ko ko stops the dogs; 
aach aach drives them on; chna clma chna, turns them to the 
right; and uga uga uga, to the left. Hunters do not make use 
of these words, for fear of frightening their game, but strike 
gently with the oschtol on the right side of the sledge, when 
they should turr to the right, and bend them down to the snow 
to the left; when they should go to the left. Besides the dan¬ 
ger in this mode of travelling, it is attended with many incon- 
veniencies. \ou must never let your dogs go loose. If ever 
you are overturned, you must rather be dragged along in the 
snow than leave vour hold, for it is a great disgrace to lose your 
