NORTHERN OCEAN. 243 
houfe before they can drive them out; anditis 1771, 
more than probable that in fo mild a climate as -~~—” 
i December. 
Canada, the Indians do generally make thofe holes 
on the land-fide*, which without doubt gave rife 
to the fuggettion. 
In refpect to the beaver dunging in their houfes, 
as fome perfons aflert, it is quite wrong as they 
always plunge into the water to doit. Iam the 
better enabled to make this affertion, from hav- 
ing kept feveral of them till they became fo do- 
mefticated as to anfwer to their name, and follow 
‘thofe to whom they were accuftomed, in the fame 
manner as a dog would do; and they were as 
much pleafed at being fondled, as any animal I 
ever faw. I hada houfe built for them, anda 
{mall piece of water before the door, into which 
they always plunged when they wanted to eafe 
nature; and their dung being of light a fubftance, 
immediately rifes and floats on the furface, then 
feparates and fubfides to the bottom. When 
the Winter fets in fo as to freeze the water folid, 
they ftill continue their cuftom of coming out 
of their houfe, and dunging and making water 
on the ice; and when the weather was fo cold 
that I was obliged to take them into my houfe, 
R 2 they 
* The Northern Indians think that the fagacity of the beaver direéts 
them to make that part of their houfe which fronts. the Noith much 
thicker than any other part, with a view of defending themfelves from 
the cold winds which generally blow from that quarter during the Win- 
ter; and for this reafon the Northern Indians generally break open that 
fide of the beaver-houfes which exa@tly front the South, 
