The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-02-20
SLElGHiNG IN SNoW-LAND.
The sIedges Used in the Arctic Regions
Skillful Dog-Drivers.

The sledges Used in the Arctic Regions
Skillful DOg-Drivers.
In the Arctic regions and some parts |
of Norway and Russia the sledge is the |
only means of conveyance that the in
habitants have. To them it answers the
same purpose as our carriages and carts.
Their marketing, visiting and journeys
are all made by means of the sledge,
which is in some parts drawn by rein
deer, and in others, such as Greenland
and Labrador, by teams of dogs.
In Norway and Switzerland, years
long ago, much attention used to be be-
slowed upon the making of sledges, and
well-to-do folk used to spend a good
deal of money upon the ornamentation
Of their snow-carriages. They were
made in various forms, according to the
taste of the owner. | have seen one, for
instance, that was made in Switzerland
about the end of the seventeenth CEN
tury. says writer in an English paper.
In shape it resembled huge she'll,
nearly six feet in length, and had at its
head a representation in carved iron
work of phoenix.
The class of sledges used in Norway
about the middle of the eighteenth CEN
tury were something like a boat in
shape. Both sides are beautifully carved
and painted, and one may imagine that
the sledge must have been greatly adj
mired, for it forms a real work of art,
as well as comfortable conveyance.
But, of course, this kind of sledge is
of no use whatever for the long rough
journeys that are frequently made in
: the far North. for the almost untrodden
ice-felds of the Arctic regions would
soon reduce them to complete wreck.
| Slcdges of much rougher and
! stronger make are used for these jour
news, and, in fact, are the only ones en-
: ployed in these parts. They are made
; of two runners of wood pointed at the
; end, with crossbars, which form sort
) of platform; three or four low wooden
; boxes are placed on the crossbar COW
cred with bears skins, and securely
tie d with stout cord, About the center
/ of the slcdge is large box. which con
tains the travellers traps and neces
$ saries for the journey.
The entire sledge is safely secured by
means OF ropes, for nails would be use
less to hold the various parts together
> owing to the rough roads over whicl
! the Esauimaux have to travel. These
} sledges are drawn by dogs and usually
six form q team.
To protect their feet the dogs have OF
little sealsllin shoes or muff1erS, anC
: over fairly even-covered ice they vii
5 travel as many as 100 miles in a day
: The driver sits on the sledge and drive
the dogs with n whip, the handle o
. which is only few in ches long, but tn
y lash is about thirty feet in length. II
WELD this curious whip requires Ion
II and constant practice, but when it
thoroughly acquired it is said that
r driver could. at distance of many feet
a lash a fly off the leading dogs ear.
y The sledge has formed an importan
+ l, feature in every Arctic expedition, an
p" much valuable service has been rer
I acrcd by various slcdge parties tina
- have started out when the vessels
u which they have been attached hav
V been blocked in the ice.
- Some of the sledges used by the Esqt
~ maux for hunting purposes are yer
-. long, but usually smaller ones are use
- if the expedition is not intended to {
=, of long duration.
!; And now will take you in imagin
ton for u short sledgc drive. Let l
- suppose that we are about to start on
~ little expedition. The sledge has bee
~ brought up, and our friend, the drive
-. informs us that every thing is ready IL
~ the start Yes; first of all there ~
"a nice. comfortable seat made OF the SIX
>; Of a great white bear, and there. to
4 are some extra Goa $ in case they shou
- be needed, one or two guns, some kniv
w. and a harpoon that may be useful IN II
w event of our meeting with seal.
~ The box in the center of the Sled
,,o contains several nccessaries which v
.s may require on the journey; behind
IN are the coats of the men who are to 4
company us, som, wood and matcht
. one or two sleeping sacks and our sno
N. shoes. all securely fast ned on to t
at sledge by sealskin thong passing ov
~ the ends of the cross-boards.
lr- The dogs, eight fine animals, are
IS ready harnesscd and seem to be anXio
no to be off. Every thing is ready, and
no driver gives the dogs the word to sta'
cd They require no second bidding; in
ed moment we are off upon our journey