C(:, The Home of tJic Wolverene and Beaver. 



* * * The force and efficacy of the beaver 

 or castor oil* in various symptoms, is wonderful, 

 too well known to practitioners in medicine to be 

 mentioned by me. It is said to be medicinal for the 

 internal diseases of cattle ; it is said to be of service 

 in frightening and driving away whales, to whom 

 its very smell alone is insufferable; for which reason 

 fishermen, apprehensive of harm from this great fish, 

 are ever provided with the oil of castor. The beaver 

 for this reason is instinctively led to build his house 

 near the banks of lakes and rivers. They saw with 

 their teeth birch trees with which the building is 

 constructed. Whichever of the beavers supplies 

 the place of the sledge, lies upon his back, with his 

 feet upwards, whilst his companions put the wood 

 between his feet as he lies down, and holding it 

 with his teeth, he drags it along to the place 

 destined for building his habitation, together with 

 the wood laid upon it. In this manner one piece 

 of timber is carried after another where they choose. 

 Those who supply the place of the sledge are easily 

 known from the rest by the defect of hair, which is 

 rubbed off by constant action all along the back. 

 At the lake or river where their house is to be 



* This is, of course, an error of Pinkerton's. The medicinal cil 

 obtained from the Castor-Oil Plant (Rk'mui Communis) is totally 

 distinct from the substance possessed by the braver. 



