CONCERNING LAPLAND. 
21 g 
lakes and rivers. Wonderful Rories are related of this animal, of 
his extraordinary fagacity in conRruCting his habitation for the 
winter, which includes lodging and Rore rooms, befides a cold 
bath; moreover, that in the conRruCtion of this habitation, he 
makes ufe of his tail as a trow'el, &c. all which are entertaining in 
the perufal, but exceed the utmoR Rretch of probability. As 
impoffible is it to believe that the beaver fhould fuffer himfelf to 
be drawn about by his fellows, in order to form a carriage for 
the conveyance of birchen Ricks for building; a circumRance 
which is inferred from the appearance of their fur being much 
rubbed, as if this might not be more naturally accounted for, by 
fuppofing their fkins to be thus Rripped of their hair from creep¬ 
ing out and in of their haunts. Thefe narrations are to be feen 
in the accounts of fome travellers, but we would rather refer to 
them, than give them a place here, as we wifh more to inform 
than merely to amufe. The cqfioreum prepared from the beaver 
is ufed as a medicine, and is faid to have the power of driving 
away the whale from fhips or boats wherein it happens to be 
found ; for which purpofe fifliermen occafionally take it to fea 
with them. The Laplanders difpofe of the fkins they take in 
Ruffia, the ufe of which in the manufacture of hats, and in lining 
garments, is well known. White beavers have been obferved in 
fome parts of Lapland ; but this is merely a variety, or rather a 
monRrous production of nature, and to be claffed w ith inRances 
of the like kind in other four-footed animals as well as birds. 
The beavers are taken in their lurking places by a trap door, which 
F f 2 Riuts 
