. Narrative of discovery and adventure in the polar seas and regions [microform] : with illustrations of their climate, geology, and natural history, and an account of the whale-fishery. Natural history; Sciences naturelles. 72 AKIMAt LIFE. months. As soon as they can walk they are yoked to a small sledge; in endeavouring to shake off which encumbrance they learn to draw it. Severe and fre- quent beatings, however, are necessary to train them for actmg as a regular team. But their most severe pnvation is in food; of which, during the season of scarcity, they obtain a portion barely sufficient
. Narrative of discovery and adventure in the polar seas and regions [microform] : with illustrations of their climate, geology, and natural history, and an account of the whale-fishery. Natural history; Sciences naturelles. 72 AKIMAt LIFE. months. As soon as they can walk they are yoked to a small sledge; in endeavouring to shake off which encumbrance they learn to draw it. Severe and fre- quent beatings, however, are necessary to train them for actmg as a regular team. But their most severe pnvation is in food; of which, during the season of scarcity, they obtain a portion barely sufficient to maintain life, and not at all to prevent them from ftlhng into a state the most meager and debilitated. Their hunger is manifested by the nature of the sab- stances with which they sometimes seek to assuage it. Captain Parry saw one which ate a large piece of canvass, a cotton handkerchief laid out to dry, and apiece of a linen shirt. The Esquimaux, we must recollect, are subject to severe scarcities, and the food of the dogs being the same with their own, the animals, on such emergencies, can scarcely expect to be placed on a footing of equality. This rough usage does not seem incompatible with a measure of solid attachment to these valuable servants. The natives refused to sell them to the English, till assured that they would not be killed. They rejoiced greatly to see a house built for them; and at every visit a friendly recognition took place between the dog and nis old master. Wlien the animals are yoked in the sledge, a whip of twenty feet long enforces obedi- ence, while peculiar cries indicate the right or left, to turn or to stop. Three dogs could draw a sledg« weighing lOOlbs., at the rate of a mile in six minutes, and one leader has drawn ISeibs. the same distance m eight minutes. A full team, however, comprises eight or ten dogs; though seven have drawn a full' sledge at the rate of a mile in four minutes and a Imlf; while nine, employed in conveying stores fro
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840, books, booksubjectnaturalhistory
