226 
1771. 
“+~— though when fith or fowl came in my way, it was 
December. 
A JOURNEY TO THE 
ly, I fcarcely ever wifhed for a change of food; 
very agreeable. 
The beaver being fo plentiful, the attention of 
my companions was chiefly engaged on them, as | 
they not only furnifhed delicious food, but their 
{kins proved a valuable acquifition, being a prin- 
cipal article of trade, as well as a ferviceable one 
for clothing, &c. 
The fituation of the beaver-houfes is various. | 
Where the beavers are numerous they are found | 
to inhabit lakes, ponds, and rivers, as well as thofe 
narrow creeks which connect the numerous lakes 
with which this country abounds; but the two) 
latter are generally chofen by them when the 
depth of water and other circumftances are fuit~ 
able, as they have then the advantage of a current: 
to convey wood and other neceflaries to their ha- 
bitations, and becaufe, in general, they are more 
difficult to be taken, than thofe that are built in 
ftanding water. 
There is no one particular part of a lake, pond, 
river, or creek, of which the beavers make choice 
for building their houfes on, in preference to} 
another; for they fometimes build on points.| 
fometimes in the hollow of a bay, and often on} 
{mall iflands; they always chufe, however, thofe) 
parts that have fuch a depth of water as will refifl 
the froft in Winter, and prevent it from freezing 
to the bottom. 
The beaver that build their houfes in fmall ri- 
vers 
