The weekly Panola star. [volume] (Panola, Miss.) 1857-1881, 1870-07-09
Dog Driving n Alasla.

Ny team comprised three dogs The
leader was = ane black dog nsmci like,
who had a magniaoeni bushy tail, which
was always erect and curly. The next
one was black and while, aud called "a.
waska, n hard worker and 1T amiable die.
position. Next The sled was old Kamuk,
my hyorite. and the ugliest dog In the
brigade. Ills tail, poorly furnished vita
hair, was usually between his legs bis
ears we're short, and scored with the
marks Of many battles. His fAce waa stolid
and exhibited emotion only when feeding
time came, or when sotne other dog ven.
tured too near or Jagged behind. Ills body
was large, and his logs were like pillars;
his color was white, with dirty spots. Az
together he looked q good deal like q lean
pig. But how he would pull
A description can give but q faint idea
OF dog-driving. II is an art In itself The
nature OF dogs Is cross grained, and they
frequently do the wrong thing with ap.
parently the best intentions. Each has a
peculiar look and character, Some are
Irreclaimably lazy, others enjoy hard
work unless pushed too far some are
greedy aud snappish, others good humor.
ed and decorous. All are very practical,
showing affection only for the man who
feeds them, and for him only az long as
he feeds them, Hence the voyager should
always feed his own team himself. They
dislike the whip, not only when In use,
but In the abstract. They will always
destroy one II they can get al II. The
whip Is made with 4 short handle, a very
long lash, braided Of leather or sealskin,
and usually loaded with sheet lead or
bullets In the core.
As we walk behind the sled, which or
dlnarily travels about four miles an hour,
we have an excellent opportunity OF
studying dogs. One habit appears 10 be
ingralned In their nature. II exhibits
itself ut street corners In cities, and at
every bush, stump or lump OF Ice which
they pass on the road. When travelling
rapidly, some dog will stop twenty times
an hour to examine any bush or twIg
which attracts his attention. II n leader,
II checks the whole team II not, he ueu.
ally entanglcs himself la tho harness, and
Jumps frantically 70 release himself as he
hears the well known crack Of the whip
about his ears, Ifs log comes In the way,
and the driver Is not ready with his help
In urging the sled over IL, down they all
drop on their launches, waaging their
tails, and looking about with O pleased
expression, or uttering q sentimental howl
With a crack Of the whip, and . shout for
Kamuk 10 stir himself, their reverics are
broken, and VIC go on. Going down bill,
the whip and lungs are again called into
requisition, 10 keep tho dogs out Of the
way Of the descending sled.
II Is said that no mar can drive dogs
without swearing. ! think II Ia In 4 meas.
ure true. At all events he must have Z
ready store Of energetic expletivest to keep
them on the qui eipc. In Russian America
we always used the indignant epithets,
which, as we did not understand them,
were hardly sinful. If there Is Q tree
near the trail, the dogs invariably try Ia
pass Il on different sides, until checked by
their harness; they constantly exhibit
such ld~iosyncrasies, and II was lucky for
Job that he was not set TO dog driving II
he had been, | fear that his posthumous
reputation would have suffered.
AT moo we stop for Q cup OF tea. Tea
over, you empty your chynik, and set Il
in the snow a moment TO cool, that you
may not burn your sled over. Having
replaced II, and seen that the dogs are I'M
tangled, you shout to Kamuk, BE Oh,
you old slnnerl' Down goes his tall, and
away you go.--Dalgs Alasko.