of North Carolina. 121 



Countries, and being laid on Beds, are said to banish Fleas, 

 Bugs, and all other kind of Verniine from thence. The Skin 

 worn about the Belly is good in the Chollck, and all cold Dis- 

 orders. The Flesh being boiled helps the Gout, and many 

 other Disorders. The Fat is much of the same nature and 

 uses with that of a Dog, being externally used in all kinds 

 of Aches, Palsies, Luxations, and Fractures. The Dung and 

 Blood are excellent good to expedite the Birth, and after- 

 Birth. 



The Beavers are amphibious Animals, like the Otter, living 

 both on Land and Water, yet they never go into the Sea, their 

 Haunts being altogether in the Freshes. They are very nu- 

 merous in Carolina, there being abundance of their Dams in 

 most parts of the Country where I have travelled. They are 

 like an Otter, but larger, and have broad flat Tails, in shape 

 like a Soal, and covered with a Skin like the Scales of a Fish, 

 upon which they carry the Mud and Earth, with which they 

 make their Dams. Their Heads are short, and the Ears are 

 very small and round, and the Teeth so long and Sharp, that 

 they will cut down Trees gTowing by the River sides, as if it 

 were done with an Ax or Chizel. Their Fore-feet are like a 

 Dogs, and their hinder Webbed like a Water-Fowl, and they 

 are one of the most industrious Beasts in the World. They 

 are very subtil, and cut down Trees in the Night (for they 

 are scarce to be seen in the Day) with which they make their 

 Dams. The Food which they chiefly feed on are Fish, and 

 the Barks of several sorts of Trees and Shrubs, such as Sassa- 

 frass. Sweet-gum, Ash, Birch, and many others. If they are 

 taken young, they become tame and domestick, but are very 

 mischievous in spoiling Orchards, by barking the Trees, and 

 blocking up the Planter's Doors in the l^ight with the Sticks 

 and Wood they bring thither. If they eat any thing that is 



Q Salt 



