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them though they are conftantly difturbed in them. 

 On the way from Montreal to Lake Huron, by 

 way of the great river, is conftantly found every 

 year a neft which thofe animals build or repair every 

 fummer ; for the firfb thing which thofe travellers, 

 who arrive firfb do, is to break down the cabin and 

 dyke which fupplies it with water. Had not this 

 caufeway dammed up the water, there would not 

 have been fufficient to continue their voyages, fo 

 that of neceftity there mud have been a carrying- 

 place ; fo that it feems thofe officious beavers pod 

 themfelves there entirely for the conveniency of 

 paffengers. 



The Indians were formerly of opinion, if we 

 may believe fome accounts, that the beavers were a 

 fpecies of animals endued with reafon, which had 

 a government, laws, and language of their own ; 

 that this amphibious commonwealth chofe chiefs or 

 officers, who in the publick works affigned to each 

 his tafk, placed fentries to give the alarm at the 

 approach of an enemy, and who punifhed the lazy 

 corporally, or with exile. Thofe pretended exiles 

 are fuch as are probably called land beavers, who 

 actually live feparate from the others, never work, 

 and live under- ground, where their fole bufinefs is 

 to make themfelves a covered way to the water. 

 They are known by the fmall quantity of fur on 

 their backs, proceeding, without doubt from their 

 rubbing themfelves continually againfr. the ground. 

 And befides, they are lean, which is the confequence 

 of their lazinefs they are found in much greater 

 plenty in warm than in cold countries. I have al- 

 ready taken notice that our European beavers are much 

 liker thefe laft than the others ; and Lemery actually 

 fays, that they retire into holes and caverns on the 

 banks of rivers, and efpecially in Poland, There are 



L 2 alfo 



