'S20 THE PHILOSOPHY 



Thefe cabins are confi:ru6led upon piles near the margin ot 

 the river or pond, and have two openings, one for the ani- 

 mals to the land, and the other for throwing thcmfelves into 

 the water. The form of thefe edifices is either round or 

 oval, and they vary in lize from four or five to eight or ten 

 feet in diameter. Some of them confift of three or four 

 ftories. Their walls are about two ftfet thick ; and are raif- 

 ed perpendicularly upon planks, or plain ftakes, which ferve 

 both for foundations and floors to their houfes. When they 

 confift of but one ftory, they rife perpendicularly a few feet 

 only, afterwards aflTume a curved form, and terminate in a 

 dome or vault, which anfwers the purpofe of a roof. They 

 are built with amazing folidity, and neatly plaftered with a 

 kind of ftucco both within and without. In the application 

 of this mortar the tails of the beavers ferve for trowels, and 

 their feet for plafhing. Their houfes are impenetrable to 

 rain, and refift the moft impetuous winds. In their conftruc- 

 tlon, they employ different materials, as wood, ftone, and a 

 kind of fandy earth, which is not liable to be difix)lved in 

 water. The wood they ufe is generally of the light and ten- 

 der kind, as alders, poplars, and willows, which commonly 

 grow on the banks of rivers, and are more eafily barked, 

 cut, and trtinfported, than the heavier and more folid fpecies 

 of timber. They always begin the operation of cutting trees 

 at a foot or a foot and a half above the ground ; they la- 

 bour in a fitting pofture ; and, befide the convenience of 

 this pofture, they enjoy the pleafure of gnawing perpetually 

 the bark and wood, which are their favourite food. Of thefe 

 provifions they lay up ample ftores in their cabins to fupport 

 them during the winter. Each cabin has its own magazine, 

 which is proportioned to the number of its inhabitants, who 

 have all a common right to the ftore, and never pillage their 

 neighbours. Some villages are compofed of twenty or 

 twenty-five cabins. But thefe large eftabliftiments are not 



