THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY, 



AUTHENTIC HISTORY— Continued. 



of the leaf, and lay in their winter stock of woods. They 

 seldom begin to repair the houses till the frost commences, 

 and never finish the outer-coat till the cold is pretty 

 severe, as hath been already mentioned. 



" When they shift their habitations, or when the in- 

 crease of their number renders it necessary to make some 

 addition to their houses, or to erect new ones, they begin 

 felling the wood for these purposes early in the summer, 

 but seldom begin to build till the middle or latter end of 

 August, and never complete their houses till the cold 

 weather be set in. 



" Notwithstanding what has been so repeatedly reported 

 of those animals assembling in great bodies, and jointly 

 erecting large towns, cities, and commonwealths, as they 

 have sometimes been called, I am confident, from many 

 circumstances, that even where the greatest numbers of 

 beaver are situated in the neighbourhood of each other, 

 their labours are not carried on jointly in the erection of 

 their different habitations, nor have they any reciprocal 

 interest, except it be such as live immediately under the 

 same roof; and then it extends no farther than to build or 

 keep a dam which is common to several houses. In such 

 cases it is natural to think that every one who receives 

 benefit from such dams, should assist in erecting it, being 

 sensible of its utility to all. 



" Persons who attempt to take beaver in winter should 

 be thoroughly acquainted with their manner of life, other- 

 wise they will have much trouble to effect their purpose, 

 and probably without success in the end; because they 

 have always a number of holes in the banks, which serve 

 them as places of retreat when any injury is offered to 

 their houses; and in general it is in those holes that they 

 are taken. 



" When the beaver which are situated in a small river 

 or creek are to be taken, the Indians sometimes find it ne- 

 cessary to stake the river across, to prevent them from 

 passing; after which, they endeavour to find out all their 

 holes or places of retreat in the banks. This requires 

 much practice and experience to accomplish, and is per- 

 formed in the following manner: Every man being fur- 

 nished with an ice-chisel, lashes it to the end of a small 

 staff about four or five feet long; he then walks along the 

 edge of the banks, and keeps knocking his chisels against 

 the ice. Those who are well acquainted with that kind 

 of work well know by the sound of the ice when they 

 are opposite to any of the beavers' holes or vaults. As 

 soon as they suspect any, they cut a hole through the ice 

 big enough to admit an old beaver; and in this manner 

 proceed till they have found out all their places of retreat, 



FICTITIOUS HISTORY— Continued. 



and length. It is difficult to conceive how such small 

 animals are able to transport such bulky articles. But 

 what is more astonishing is, that they never make use of 

 trees blown down by the wind, or levelled by the strength 

 of man, but select them themselves, cutting down such as 

 are peculiarly adapted for the intended building, and doing 

 this always on the banks of lakes or large rivers, in order 

 to avail themselves of the opportunity of conveying them 

 by water to the place intended. 



" While five or six are occupied in cutting or sawing 

 with their teeth the bottom of the trunk, another stations 

 himself in the middle of the river, and indicates by a hiss- 

 ing sound, or by striking the water with his tail, which 

 way the top inclines towards the fall, that the operator^ 

 without interrupting their labour may conduct it with 

 proper caution, and preclude all danger. It is worthy of 

 remark, that they never gnaw the tree on the land side, 

 but always on that of the lake or river, in order to ensure 

 its falling into it. 



" The whole tribe then combine their exertions, and 

 float the trunk to the place where it is wanted. Here, 

 with their teeth, they point the stakes; — with their claws 

 dig deep holes for them in the earth, and with their paws 

 introduce and drive them in. They then place branches 

 against them, and fill up the interstices with mortar, which 

 some prepare while the others are cutting down the trees, 

 or engaged in different departments of labour; for the tax 

 of labour is carefully distributed, and no individual re- 

 mains unemployed. The mortar used by these wonder- 

 ful animals becomes more hard and solid than the finest 

 Roman cement. 



"When the dike is completed, and has been proved fit 

 for the purpose designed, they effect an opening at the bot- 

 tom of it, by way of floodgate, (which they open or close 

 as may be required,) that the stream may not be too much 

 impeded. They then commence building their habitation 

 in the midst of the mass constituting the dike. They 

 never begin to erect the habitation previously to forming 

 the dike, lest the latter operation should fail of success, and 

 they should consequently lose their valuable time and 

 labour. 



"Their mansion, formed equally of wood and mortar, 

 consists of two stories, and is double; its length is in pro- 

 portion to the number of the tribe for whom it is intended. 

 " The first stage, or story, is a magazine in common for 

 provisions, and is under water; the second is divided into 

 dormitories, each family having its distinct chamber: this 

 part of the building is above the water. 



"Under the foundations of the building they form a 



