The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-05-01
AN ADVENTURE WITH EsQUIMAUx
DOGS

The following extract from DR. Hayes "Arctic
Boat Journey will be read with interest ut the
present time, when the writer's proposed Polar
Expedition is one off the topics of the day:
"The dogs were fastened by their long traces,
each team being tied to a separate stake. They
were bowling piteously Having been exposed to
all the fury of the storm, with no ability to run
about, they had grown cold; and as their masters
told us, having had nothing to eat during thirysix
hours, they must have been savagely hungry
One of them had already eaten his trace; but we
came out, fortunately, at the proper moment to
prevent an attack upon the sledges.
Leaving the hunters to look after their teams,
| returned to the hut. The binding snow which
battered my face made me insensible to everything
except the idea of getting out of it, and thinking
OF no danger, was in the act of STOPPING to enter
the doorway, when a sudden noise behind me
caused me to look around, and there, close at my
heels, was the whole pack of thirteen hungry
dogs, snarling, swapping, and showing their sharp
teeth like a drove of rayenous wolves. 1t was
fortunate that | had not got down upon my knees
or they would have been upon my back. In fact,
so imIetuous was their attack, that of them
had already sprung when | faced round. / caught
him on my arm and kicked him down the hill
The others were for the moment intmidated by
the suddenness of my movement, and at seeing the
summary manner in which their leader had been
dealt WITH and they were in the act of sneaking
away, when they perceived that | was powerlcss
to do them any harm having nothing in my hand.
Again they assumed the offensive; they were all
around me; an instant more and | should be torn
to pieces. | had faced death in several shapes
before, but never had felt them my blood fairly
curded in my veins Death down the red throats
of pack of wolfsh dogs had something about it
peculiarly unpleasant Conscious of my weak
ness, they were preparing for spring; had not
time even to halloo for help-to run would be the
readiest means of bringing the wretches upon me.
My eyes swept round the group and caught some-
thing lying half buried in the snow about ten feet
distant Quick fash | sprang, as never
sprang before since, over the back Of a huge
fellow who stood before, aud the next instant I
was whirling about ME the lash of a long whip,
cutting to right and left The dogs retreated be-
fore my blows and the fury of my onset, and then
sullenly skulked behind the rocks The whip had
clearly saved my life; there was nothing else with
in my reach, and it had been dropped there quite
accidentally by Kalutanah he went down to the
sledges.
"My principal object in mentioning this little
incident is to show the savage propensity of these
dogs, which are to the Esquimaux more than the
horse to the camel to the Arab. Savage
they are, however, only when hungry. The night
without food had developed all their latent VOL
fish qualities. Reclaimed wolves they doubtless
are; and, as shown by the bodness of their attack
when my back was turned and when had nothing
in my hand and their timidy when had posses
sion Of a slender whip they have oil of VOLTS.
cowardice. Their masters keep them in subjec-
tion only by intimidation they will do nothing for
a man they do not fear; and even the hunter
who has been accustomed to them for years, and
has fed them and driven them, has to watch them
closely when they hungry. His whip is then
his constant companion. They are capable of no
attachment to their MASTER be he ever so kind, ex-
,ept in rare cases; and they will follow the man
who last fed them. A little child, or disabled
person, is never safe among them in times of
carcity." ---.ss-sss. zr.T#