THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
205 
form a journey of one hundred and twenty miles *. Thefe 1779* 
dogs are, in fhape, fomewhat like the Pomeranian breed, 
but conliderably larger. 
As we did not choofe to truft to our own fkill, we had 
each of us a man to drive and guide the fledge, which, 
from the ftate the roads were now in, proved a very labo¬ 
rious bulinefs. For, as the thaw had advanced very conli¬ 
derably in the vallies, through which our road lay, we were 
under the neceffity of keeping along the fides of the hills ; 
and this obliged our guides, who were provided with fnow- 
fhoes for that purpofe, to fupport the fledges, on the lower 
fide, with their fhoulders, for feveral miles together. I had 
a very good-humoured Coftack to attend me, who w'as, 
however, fo very unlkilful in his bulinefs, that we were 
overturned almoft every minute, to the great entertainment 
of the reft of the company. Our party confifted, in all, of 
ten Hedges. That in which Captain Gore was carried, was 
made of two lalhed together, and abundantly provided with 
furs and bear-lkins ; it had ten dogs, yoked four abreaft; 
as had alfo fome of thofe that were heavy laden with bag¬ 
gage* 
When we had proceeded about four miles, it began to 
rain ; which, added to the darknefs of the night, threw us 
* Extraordinary as this may appear, Krafcheninikoff, whofe account of Kamtfchatka,. 
from every thing that I faw, and had an opportunity of comparing it with, leems to me 
to deferve entire credit; and whofe authority I Jhall , therefore, frequently have recourfe 
to; relates inftances of this kind, that are much more furprizing; “ Travelling parties,’*' 
fays he, “ are. often overtaken with dreadful ftorms of fnow, on the approach of which, 
“ they drive, with the utmojl precipitation^ into the nearejl wood\ and there are obliged to 
* c Hay, till the tempeft, which frequently lafts fix or feven days, is over; the dogs re- 
w maining all this while quiet and inoffenflve ; except that, fometimes, when preft by 
“ hunger, they will devour their reins, and the other leathern parts of the harneis.” Hiftory 
and Defcription of Kamtfcbatfa, by Krafcheninikoff. 
all 
