122 The Natural Historg 



Salt, it presently kills them. Their Flesh is very sweet Food, 

 and especially their Tails, which is held as a great Dainty. 

 They have such a Jargon amongst them when they are at 

 Work, that one would immagine them Discoursing, or in 

 a grand Debate about their Building, wherein it is said, they 

 have such an orderly Government, that each knows his proper 

 Business and Station, and that the Overseers beat the Young 

 ones that loiter in their Business, and will make them cry, 

 and work stoutly. It is very surprizing to behold with what 

 Pains and Labour they make their Dams, and how artificially 

 they build their Houses, one Appartment above another, until 

 they lie dry. They are sometimes shot, but are taken most 

 commonlv after the followinc; manner. The Planters break 

 down part of their Dams, and lay Traps in those places, 

 which the Beavers attempting to repair and mend at Xight, 

 are caught in them. Their Furr, which is of a brownish 

 colour, is softer and finer than any Plume or Down of Feath- 

 ers, and a good staple Commodity in this Country. Their 

 Skins being dress'd, make thick Leather, fit for Shoes, and 

 wears well, it is likewise used in Mittens for Iledgers, and 

 several other ways. From this Beast comes the Castoreum, 

 which is it's Stojies, the Virtues whereof are so well known 

 that it would be needless to insert them. 



The Otters are plentifully to be met with near tlie Heads 

 of the Rivers, and live on the same prey in Europe, viz. on 

 Fish, and sometimes Fowl, and are the same in most respects 

 as those with us : Yet there have been seen some Otters to the 

 Westward of this Province, which were of a whitish gray 

 Colour, a little inclining to Yellow. Their Furr, if Black, 

 is valuable to make Hats, Muffs, and several other Necessa- 

 ries. Although the Flesh be cold and ill-scented, yet some 

 eat it, the Blood mixed with Vinegar, helps swellings of the 



