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alfo fome of them in Germany, along the mores of 

 the Ebro in Spain, and on the Rhope, the Ifer, and 

 the Oife in France. What is certain is, that we 

 lee not fo much of the marvellous in the European 

 beavers, for which thofe of Canada are fo highly 

 diftinguifhed. Your ladyfhip will certainly agree 

 with me, that it is great pity, none of thefe won- 

 derful creatures were ever found either on the Tiber 

 or on Parnafius ; how many fine things would they 

 have given occafion to the Greek and Roman poets 

 to fay on that fubjecl. 



It appears, that the Indians of Canada did not 

 give them much difturbance before our arrival in 

 their country. The (kins of the beaver were not 

 tifed by thofe people by way of garments, and the 

 fiefh of bears, elks, and fome other wild beads, 

 feemed, in all probability, preferable to that of the 

 beaver. They were, however, in ule to hunt them, 

 and this hunting had both its feafon and ceremonial 

 fixed ; but when people hunt only out of neeeffity, 

 and when this is confined to pure necefTaries, there 

 is no great havock made ; thus when we arrived in 

 Canada we found a prodigious number of thefe 

 creatures in it. 



The hunting of the beaver is not difficult ; this 

 animal fhewing not near fo much ftr'ength in defend- 

 ing himfelf, or dexterity in fhunning the fnares of 

 his enemies, as he difcovers induflry in providing 

 himfelf good lodgings, and forefight in getting all 

 the necefTaries of life. It is during the winter that 

 War is carried on againfl: him in form ; that is to 

 fay, from the beginning of November to the month 

 of April. At that time, like molt other animals, 

 he has the greatefl quantity of fur, and his fkin is 

 thinned. This hunting is performed four ways, 



with 



