BEAVER AND CANADIAN HISTORY 183 



intrinsic value of these skins was practically nothing, 

 yet the giving of them meant a great deal. On 

 another occasion, Father Ragueneau, in order to 

 establish peace between two tribes made a gift of 

 eight beavers to the Oneiotchronons at Three 

 Rivers, " to exhort them to go to the chase without 

 fear, and if they should meet the Algonquins 



The beaver and peculiar ideas of lodges. 

 (From an old print, 1755.) 



they shall prepare a kettle, and give one another 

 meat." 



In connection with the building of churches the 

 beaver played an important part, and many edifices 

 owe their existence to contributions of skins. " In 

 the year 1645 Monsieur de Montmagny, the 

 Governor, and the inhabitants gave twelve hundred 

 and fifty beaver skins brought by the soldiers, who 

 came from the Huron country, to have a church 

 built at Kebec in honour of Our Lady of Peace." 



