158 ON THE FBONTIER. 



so, could I give them here, having received the informa- 

 tion as a confidential communication. Besides these vege- 

 table matters, there have to be in addition some animal sub- 

 stances, to be procured by hunting. The vehicle used is pure 

 grease, simple cerate is the best ; but lacking that, deer's 

 tallow melted, strained, and then re-melted, thrown hot into 

 cold water, and potted, will do well enough, if it has not 

 acquired any smell of man. The materials, as obtained, 

 should be bagged in strong white paper bags. 



We kept ours, together with a broad butcher-knife, never 

 used but for making beaver medicine, safely locked up in 

 a close-fitting tin box, made for the special purpose of 

 containing them. 



When getting the materials, leather gloves should be 

 worn. A pair of thick kid or thin buckskin are the best ; 

 they should be used for no other purpose, and freshly 

 smoked in pitch-pine or grease wood smoke immediately 

 before using them. 



The way to make up your medicine is as follows : 

 You select a convenient-sized flat stone, carry it to the 

 water, submerge and wash it thoroughly, pitch it ashore, 

 put on the gloves, approach the stone from the lee side, 

 carry it against the wind to where you intend compounding, 

 and place it on the ground. When the sun has dried the 

 stone, you macerate your roots, &c., on it, incorporate the 

 expressed juices with your grease, facing the wind all the 

 time ; and your bait, or beaver medicine, is prepared. When 

 made it is to be immediately put into bait-bottles, and 

 well corked up. These bait-bottles are simply vials about 

 three inches long, with wide mouths of not less than an 



