THE BEAVERS OF NORTH AMERICA 21 



thoroughly interlaced accounts for the strength ot 

 the whole structure, which is arched over with 

 a perfect network, so that when in perfect condi- 

 tion it will bear the combined weight of as many 

 men as could find foothold on it. Even an old 

 lodge may be torn apart so that only a thin shell 

 of the woodwork remains, and yet it will readily 

 bear the weight of a man. In very exceptional 

 cases the domed roof will have a central support 

 built up from the floor, and it is this support 

 which has probably given rise to the stories of 

 many-roomed lodges, for the support is not neces- 

 sarily a smooth circular column of mud and sticks, 

 but may be an irregular mass which, being added 

 to from time to time, eventually becomes a sort of 

 wall or even a complete partition with one or more 

 openings to allow of communication. 



In confirmation of this explanation, there is the 

 following description by Samuel Hearne written 

 between the years 1769 and 1772 : '' Those who 

 have undertaken to describe the inside of beaver 

 houses, as having several apartments appropriated 

 to various uses, such as eating, sleeping, store- 

 houses for provisions, and one for their natural 

 occasions, etc., must have been very little acquainted 

 with the subject." . . . **Many years constant 

 residence among the Indians, during which I had 

 an opportunity of seeing several hundreds of these 

 houses, has enabled me to affirm that everything 

 of the kind is entirely void of truth." ... "It 



