244 A BIRCH-BARK CANOE TRIP 



chosen a small brook out of which to form an artificial lake wit 

 infinite labour, where natural lakes were at their disposal, seeme 

 something of a mystery. Two dams had been built to the heigh 

 of about four feet, chiefly of mud about five feet thick at tli 

 and two at the apex ; the total length of these gigantic walls \\. 

 at least one hundred yards. Imagine the industry necessary fc 

 such a construction. Then there were two houses composed in 

 most skilful manner of mud and sticks, that rose to the height < 

 seven feet, and were at least twelve in diameter. The dams enclose 

 two ponds, in each of which was a house, the upper, doubtles: 

 intended as a citadel or refuge in case of being driven from th 

 other. In the middle of their hut they have a landing, whei 

 they lie with their heads together all day (like ' little boys 

 Joe said), and their broad trowel-like tails in the water, fc 

 they are nocturnal in their habits. They are said to carry mu 

 on their flat tails as well as with their forepaws pressed a^ain^ 

 the body. We found some enormous beech trees felled by thei 

 of nearly eighteen inches in diameter, and a pile of food consistin 

 mostly of limbs of the beech and birch submerged in the watt 

 to last through the winter. The entrances to their houses were a 

 under water, and they had numerous sallyports or holes unde 

 the roots of trees, where they could find refuge in case of at tar I 

 A very inhuman way of taking them is to drain off their dams an 

 send in a dog to drive them out a dog that knows well how to avoi 

 their terrible incisor teeth. The poor animals flounder hdplr^sl 

 in the shallow water and are easily knocked on the head. The; 

 castors, or oil bags, are much prized by hunters, emitting a ver 

 pungent smell ; when mixed with camphor they prove fat. ill 

 attractive in traps to bear and lynx. 



All along the brook we saw numerous fresh marks of moose 

 fresh tracks and newly bitten bushes. In fact, we once must hav 

 been nearly upon a moose, for we saw the green chewed lea\ 

 had dropped from his mouth and heard him crackling in the timbe 

 at some little distance, but saw him not. He had caught on 

 scent no doubt. We had just crossed some m<adnws that \\n 

 well beaten with their tracks and had seen numerous marks in th 

 shingle ; so that we were startled, but hardly surprised, when on turr 

 ing a bend we beheld before us, at about two hundred yards, a fin 

 bull and cow standing in the river. I got my rifle ready and 1< a|- 

 into the river; meanwhile the bull had partly hidden hiins. It i 

 some thick growth at the bank. The bullet hit in the neck 1* mi- 

 ne fell like a log. We pitched tent in a cosy, sheltered spot n.-.i 

 by, protected by a fine growth of hemlocks. The springy nms 

 furnished the most luxurious bed it ever has been my lot to n < lin 



