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.” 
