The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-11-11
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The dogs OF Hudson Bay and contiguous
,or,i,orv do not resemble those usually
n1c,ured in the illustrated editions OF Arctlc
works. which are the Greenland dogs.
From what | gather by reading OF the per-
formapces OF the dogs in Greeland and
Northeastern Asia, and comparing them with
our experience in Hudson Bay, l should
Judge the animals from the latter country
10 be immessurably the superior IN en-
durance and pluck, though perhaps inie'
rior in speed for one or two days travel.
When foed is plentiful the dogs are fed
eyery Other day while travelling; but il liy-
ing in camp once in ten or twelve days is
considered enough, and often twenty days
will intervene between meals. Not but
that they pick up trife now and then, and
by raid on an iglOo will secure meat
enough 10 last for several days. Their
mode Of life forces upon them the character
OF thieves, and all their waking moments
are devoted TO the one object OF making q
rad. Whether il be Oh the meat IN the
jeloo or the siorehouSe, or the bag OF blub-
ber for the lamps, or the sealskin clothing,
il is all the same. They know from expert
epce that the severest penalty VIII be en-
forced as a punishment for their offence,
but 10 them the pleasure OF theft and the
exquisite bliss Of greasing their stomachs
with u slice OF blubber outweighs every
other consideration.
TIE TERRIBLE DOG.wHlP.
Too often have they felt the cruel snow
stick across their defeuceless heads, and the
sting Of the loug-lasbed whip cutting NOR
sci of flesh at each blow, TO doubt the quality
OF their reception, and the howl OF pain as
they start upon the grand rush is in antici-
patton Of the end. A RAID can sometimes be
brought 10 an end with good stout club
that Will knock dog senseless at each
blow, but there is nothing like the ip-
.er-ow-ter--the Esqu!mau dog-whip--
TO bring them TO their senses. The lp-er'
ow.ter has q handle made Of wood, bone,
or reindeer horn, about twelve or eighteen
inches long, and lash from eighteen 10
thirty feet in length. The lash Is of seal
skin or box. jook, that part Of the thong
near the handle being plated or doubled to
sti1en il or give a spring that adds mate
rally TO its usefulness. The men acquire
considerable deXterity IN the use OF this
whip, the lash OF which is thrown forward
or back with quick turn OF the wrist.
That portion Of the lash near the handle
strikes the ground first, and then the long
soalskin thong unwinds, gaining rapidty
and strength as the end is reached, and this
strikes with such force as TO make the
snow 1y and with a report like a pistol.
1t Is not a handy implement, for it re-
Quifcs time 10 get IN position to swing the
long lash. First il is thrown back and then
forWard-ths time for eXecut0n-and ii Is
no unusual thing TO see dog with an eye
gone or piece of ear missing-a witness to
the power OF the tp er-ow-ter In the prac-
iiced hand OF the Esqumau d0g-driver.
Even the boys are quite skitul in the use
Of the whip, and dog-driying is taught
them almost from infancy. The driver sits
on the front part OF the sled or runs along
side, the long lash OF the whip trailing be-
hind him on the snow, so that when occa-
sion occurs calling for the administering OF
punishment il is already in the proper
position for delivering the blow.
The first effect OF the whip j. TO retard the
sled. The dog that is struck Invariably
draws back and then usually pitches upon
his neighbor, and for awhile there Is row
that threatens the sled with stOppage. The
driver usually takes advantage OF this Occa-
SION TO administer q general chastisement,
each dog receiving a share OF the punish
ment, whether guilty of insub ordination or
not. The Esquimau theory is that ii not
deserving OF the whip this time he would
be before long, and so might as well receive
IL now as any time.
HOW THE DOGS ARB HARNEssED.
The dogs are attached to the sled by bar
ness made OF either reindeer or sealskin.
One loop passes around the neck, while
each leg Is lifted through loop, all three
loops Joining over the back and fastened to
long sealskin line. These lines are OF diff
ferent lengths, so as to allow the dogs 10
pull TO greater advantage than II all the
traces were Of the same length, causing the
dogs TO spread out like a fan. At every
few miles the traces have 10 be embossed
and eXtficated from the most abominable
iangle that II Is possible TO conceive. This
comes from habit the dogs have OF con-
stanty running under and over the other
traces to avoid the whip, or In some cases
merely from spirit OF pure deviltry.
THE HEAD DOG.
The leader Of the team is dog selected
for bis intelligence, aud is one known as
setting an example Of constant industry un-
der all circumstances. You will always see
the leader OF q team OF dogs working as il
the load was being drawn by HIM alone.
He goes along, his head bent over ard tug.
ging In his harness, his mouth open and
tongue lolling out, while bis ears are ever
ready 10 bear the word OF command from
the driver. To 90 TO the left the command
ls gwen, " An-foOt," ana 10 the rlght,
Why-ah' wah-ha." Then he some
times, 10 encourage or urge to greater
exertion, says, Ah-wagb-oo-ar." To
stop the team he says "Woah," as
one says when driving horses. II is the
nOisiest method OF travel yet invented, for
the driver is constantly talking TO his team,
calling each by name, and usually following
the word with blow OF the whip, so that
the next time that dog is spoken to he will
understand that 1t means hurry up" The
conversation with dog.team Is lncessant,
and the work Of the driver il not confined
70 his team alone. He has to constantly
keep watch over the front OF the sled TO
turn II to the right or left in order TO avoid
bummocks or stones that would upset the
load or tear the ice from tue bottom OF the
runners.
RIDE on RUN.
lnnuits are fond OF riding on the sled
while travelling. aud as long o. there Is a
spot that would hold one they will pile up
there. But should there be no place Tor
them they VIII run alongside without appa-
rent discomfort for almost any length OF
time or distance. This IL equally true of The
children Of both sexes, aud when any are
compelled to walk for lack OF dogs or OF
room Oh the sled 1t Is The women and girls
who have 10 give way 10 the men and
b0fs With A ii0ht sled md from nine