10% 
CENTINELS. 
SLAVES. 
THEIR WOOD HOW 
CUT. 
a, ae ee 
They have alfo their centinels, who, by the fame kind of fignal, 
give notice of any apprehended danger. 
They are faid to have a fort of flavith Beaver among them (analo- 
gous to the Drone) which they employ in fervile works, and the do- 
meftic drudgery *. 
I have mentioned before their fagacity in laying in the winter pro- 
vifion. They cut the wood they prefer into certain lengths; pile 
them in heaps beneath the water, to keep them moift ; and, when they 
want food, bite the wood into fimall pieces, and bring it into their 
houfes. The Jvdians obferve the quantity which the Beavers lay in 
their magazine at approach of winter. It is the Almanack of the 
Savages; who judge from the greater or lefs ftock, of the mildnefs or 
feverity of the approaching feafon +. 
The expedition with which they cut down trees, for the forming 
their dams, is amazing. A number furrounds the body, and will in 
a few minutes gnaw through a tree of three feet in circumference ; 
and always contrive to make it fall towards the fpot they with f. 
Beavers have in America variety of lakes and waters in which they 
might fix their feats; but their fagacity informs them of the preca- 
rious tenure of fuch dwellings, which are liable to be overthrown by 
every flood. This induces them to undertake their mighty and mar- 
vellous labors. They therefore felect places where no fuch inconve- 
niences can be felt. They form a dam to fupport a refervoir, fed 
only by a {mall rill; and provide for the overflow of the wafte water 
by a fuitable channel in the middle of their bank. They have no- 
thing to fear but from land floods, or the fudden melting of the 
fnows. Thefe fometimes make breaches, or damage their houfes ; 
but the defects are inftantly repaired. 
During the winter they never ftir out, except to their magazines of 
provifion ; and in that feafon grow exceffively fat. 
They are ftrongly attached to certain haunts, there being places 
which they will not quit, notwithftanding they are frequently dif- 
* Mr: Graham. + Charlevoix, v. 151. t Catefry, App. 30. 
turbed. 
