The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-25

and binding snowdrifts. these sagacious
and faithful animals will draw him safely TO
his own door or the nearest post.
The commetique is Ia bout 80 inches
broad and 10 or 70 feet long. The run lr
by friction over the snow soon becomes
beautifully polished and looks like ivory.
The commetique is we'll foored with the
skins of the hair, or Labrador, seal, over
which bear or more sealskins are nailed
to Introduce his body; The harness, is
made of sealskin. The foremost dog,
called the guide or leader, Ia placed about
thirty feet in advance Tho others are
ranged in pairs behind the guide. Some
times three, lor even four. pairs of dogs
are thus attached to ono commetique,
besides the guide.
The Esquimau1 dog Of pure breed, with his
strongly omit T. anne, long white fur, poiI. ted
ears III d bLshy tail, il capable Of enduring
hunger to a far greater exteIt than the
mixed breed. But the latter beats him in
a day.
The Esquimaux dog will travel two days
without food One of the mixed breed
must be fed at the close Of the first day,
or he is good for little the rext In winter
their food often consists chiefly. Of dried
capelin-the small, smetlike fish used
by the cod fishermel for bait.
An expert driver can hit airy part Of the
leading dog he chooses with his formidable
whip. 1t is used, however as little as pos
sible, for these dogs. although Il actable, are
ferocious, and will endure little correc-
tor.
with severity, he fails upon ard worries
his neighbor, and the latter in turn, attacks
third and there is a see Of universal
confusion; or the, dogs double from side
to side to avoid the whip and the traces
become a. tan ed and the safety of the
sladpp dan perafl The vehicle must
then be stopped, each dog put into his
proper place, and the traces lead justed.
in the course Of the day.
ciray upon the docility of the leader, who,
with aumil able precision. orickens or
slacke"s his pace and starts of or stops,
or turns to the right OF left, at the sum
mors of his master.
When they are lourneying homewatd,
or travelling TO some spot to which the
leader has been accustomed to go, he il
generally suffered to pursue his own course;
for although every trace Of the road is lost
in the drifting snow, he scer'ts it out and
follows it with undertaking accuracy.
Even the leader, however, is not always
under the control Of his master. III the
journey lies homeward, he will go his own
pace and that IL usually at the top Of his
speed or, II any game starts or he scents
it at distance, no command OF his driver
will restrain him.
Invaluable "a these dogs are to their
owners, the treatment accorded them
seems i'll calculated TO cause any strong or
lasting attachment: During their period
oflabor he fish which forms their staple food
is often quite putrid, and in summer they
are turned loose for several months to shift
for themselves until the return of the severe
season renders it necessary TO their master IS
interests that they should again be sought
for and once more reduced to their state of
toll and slavery.
They have been known for several sue
cessive days to travel more than sixty miles
day They seldom miss their road, al
though they may be driven over one I'M
trodden. snowy plain where they are oc-
casionally unable to reach any place Of
shelter
When night comes they partake with
their master of the scanty fare which the
sledge will afford, and then, crowding
around. keep him warm and defend him
from danger II any Of them fall victim
tc the hardships to which they are ex-
posed their master or their companions
frequently feed on their remains, and their
skins are converted into warm and COM
Portable dresses.