42 -^n llijîorïcal Jour ml of 



the fat Skin is what has been worn by the Savages, which, after 

 they have been well fcraped within, and rubbed with the Marrow 

 of certain Animals which I do not know, to make it more plia- 

 ble, they few feveral together, and make a Kind of Mantle, 

 which they call a Robe, with which they wrap themfelves up 

 with the Fur inwards. They wear it continually in Winter, 

 Day and Night ; the long Hair foon falls off, and the Down re- 

 mains, and grows greafy : In this Condition it is much fitter for 

 the Ufe of, the Hatters ; they cannot not even ufe the dry Sort, 

 without mixing feme of the other with it. They fay that it mult 

 be worn fifteen or fixteen Months to be in Perfeftion. I leave 

 you to judge, if at firft they were weak enough to let the Savages 

 know, that their old Clothes v/ere fuch a precious Merchandize. 

 But a Secret of this Nature, could not be long hid from them; 

 it was trailed to Covetoufnefs, which is never long without be- 

 traying itÇoïï. 



, About three Years, ago one Guigues, who had the Farm of 

 A other Ufe of ^^^^ Beaver Skins, finding himfelf burdened 

 L D ^ f'^. vjiih. a prodigious Quantity of thefe "Skins, 



e ea^vet . thought to encreafe the Confumption, by hav- 



ing the Fur fpun and carded with Wool; and with this Compo- 

 fition he made Cloths and Flannels, and wove Stockings, and 

 fuch-like Works, but with little Succefs. 



It is evident by this Tryal, that the Beaver Fur is good for 

 nothing but to make Hats. It is too fhort to be fpun alone, it 

 muft be mixt with above half Wool; fo that there is but little 

 Profit to be made of thefe Works. There is, however, ftill one 

 of thefe Manufa^lures in Holland^ where they make Cloths and 

 Druggets; but thefe Stufis are dear, and do not wear well. The 

 Beaver Fur feparates foon, and forms a Kind of Down upon the 

 Surface, which takes off all their Beauty. The Stockings which 

 were made of it in France^ had the fame Fault. 



This is, Madam, all the Advantage this Colony can receive 



T'-^ Ird':f}r ^rind ^^^^ ^^'^^ Beavers, withRefpe6t to its Trade. 



Cu^ ^^^c^'^h^ "^^^ Induftry of the Beavers, their Forefight, 

 .LaoGmscj . .'c jj a- ^^^^^ Unity and Subordination fo much admir- 

 • ed in them, their Attention to procure them- 

 felves Conveniencies, the Comforts of v/liich, we thought former- 

 ly Brutes were not fenfible of, farnifn to Man more Infiruftion 

 than the Ant, to vvhich the Pîoîy Scriptures fend the Idle. They 

 are at leaft amcngil Quadrupèdes, what the Bees are amonglt 

 flying înfeâ:s. I nçver heard that they had a King or a Queen, 

 and it is not true that v/hen they are at work together in Com - 

 panies, that they have a Chief who commands and punilhes 

 the idle : But by Virtue of that ïniHnél given to Animals, by him 

 whofe Providence governs them, every one knows what he has 



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