BEAVER LODGES AND BURROWS. 141 



is an accurate representation of a beaver lodge, and of 

 its surrounding landscape. This lodge^ is considerably 

 above the ordinary size, and a good specimen. In the 

 year 1860 I opened it, and measured its inner chamber. 

 It was not accessible from the land without a boat, and 

 we were compelled to fell a tree from the main land 

 across to the island as a means of transit. When we 

 reached it, we found it very unsubstantial; the turf, 

 which was saturated with water, yielding under our 

 feet with a rocking motion. The lodge was situated 

 upon the edge of the island, and was girded around 

 with a moat or trench about three feet wide, and from 

 three to four feet deep, which opened out into the pond 

 at the outer edge of the lodge. Externally it was a 

 rounded and dome-shaped mass of poles and sticks, 

 which were trimmed of their branches and stripped 

 of their bark, and interlaced much in the same man- 

 ner as those upon the lower faces of their dams. It 

 was oblong in form rather than round, as will appear 

 by the following measurements : 



From the water level, on the right in the engraving, to the 



water level on the left, measured over apes of lodge 22 ft. 6 inches. 



Width of lodge at base or water line 16 " 4 " 



From water level in front, to same on back side, measured 



over apex of lodge 26 " 10 " 



Width of lodge at base or water line, from front to back... 19 " 9 " 



Vertical height of lodge above water level 4" 6 " 



We commenced opening it at the top. A few of 

 the poles on the surface were loose and easily removed, 

 but at a few inches below the apex we found them so 



^ The Ojibwas call a beaver lodge wig-e-wam' , which is the 

 same word they employ to designate their own bark house. When 

 they make the distinction, they prefix the word for beaver, ah- 

 mick'. 



