18 BEAVERS—THEIR WAYS 
down the cabins of the beavers, who never fail to make 
towards the deepest part, where they are entangled and 
taken. But they must not be suffered to remain there 
long, as they would soon extricate themselves with their 
teeth, which are well known to be excessively sharp and 
strong. 
The Indians take great care to hinder their dogs from 
touching the bones of the beavers. The reasons they 
give for these precautions, are, first, that the bones are 
so excessively hard,that they spoil the teeth of the dogs; 
and, secondly, that they are apprehensive they shall so 
exasperate the spirits of the beavers by this permission, 
as to render the next hunting season unsuccessful. 
The skins of these animals, the hunters exchange with 
the Europeans for necessaries, and as they are more 
valued by the latter than any other kind of furs, they 
pay the greatest attention to this species of hunting.” 
