8 
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 l’enders 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 live 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 operators 
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 fillup 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 he 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 
