The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-12-23
From the Christian Teachers Manual. 70,
October, 1899.

From the Christian Teachers Manual 70,
October, 1929.
ACCOUNT OF A BEAVER COLONY
" 1t is now about twenty years since ac-
companied a trading party on Journey to
Detroit; where we were 10 stay some time
to procure furs from the Indians.
We had penetrated far into the interior
OF the country, and had encamped for the
night In the midst of an Indian yillape. sim
ated on the borders of a clear and swift
stream which emptied into Lake Michigan.
X 4
" After we had succeeded in gaining the
confidence the Indians, they permitted us
TO go one at time and watch the operation
OF the beavers and notwithstanding all
had heard, could not but be astonished at
the wonderful powers with which our Crea-
tor has endowed them.
The river was about a hundred feet
WIDE at this place, and they had constructed
across It solid dam as much as twelve feet
broad at the base. The Indians told us
they had labored in the construction of this
with wonderful perseverance. Alarge tree,
the size round the trunk of a mans body, had
been first sawed off by their teeth, in such
manner that it fell across the stream
then they sawed off the branches that il
might lay level; many working together
with the greatest zeal and industry. Some
ofthem at the same time traversed the banks
OF the river and cut down smaller trees.
These they cut into equal lengths, sharpen-
ed them at one end-dragged them by land
10 tne margin of the river, and then by water
to the place where they were going to build.
Some of them plunged to the bottom and
dug holes with their fore-feet to receive the
points of these stakes, while others support
ed them against the tree which had before
been laid across. Others brought earth
and filled all the interstices between the
piles. These piles consisted of several rows
of stakes of equal heights, placed opposite
to each other, and extending from one bank
of the river to the other. The stakes facipo
the lower part of the river were placed per-
pendicularly; but those which were oppos
ed to the stream sloped upwards to sustain
the pressure of the water; so that the bank
which was ten or twelve feet wide at the
base, is reduced to two or three at the ton.
They had taken another precaution,
also, against inundation; they had made
sloping holes through the thinnest part of
the embankment to allow the surface water
20 escape, that it might act with less force
against the dam. When we made our Grst
visit to them, they had already separated
into smaller societies, and were making
their separate habitations all along the mar.
gin of the river. There were about twenty
of these parties with as many cabins nearly
tlnlshed-there we're two openings in each :
one for going torthe land, and the other for
plunging into the water. These buildings
varied slightly both in, shape and size
some being round, others oval some OF
them consisted of two or three stories; the
walls were about two feet thick; raised
upon planks which served both for founda-
tons and floors to their houses. Those
houses which were Of but one story, rose
perpendicularly only few feet, and then
curved in, terminating in dome or yaulted
roof. They were all very solid and neatly
plaistered both within and without. The
beavers were very busy when first saw
them, in completing this plaistering, using
their tails to mix the mortar and their feet
in putting it on.
Zone day while was very busy watch
ing them, a heavy shower came on so sud
denly that | had not noticed its approach
AS WAAN OAOW very totup6SluOuSly all the
time and it was not till the storm had con-
siderably abated that could look about me
and observe the condition of my friends, the
beavers. When l did so could not but
remark with surprise, how comfortably and
how perfectly sheltered they had been
They had retreated to the inside of theil
cabins, where neither wind nor rain could
get at them: observed several large tree.
rooted up and fragments hurled from tht
rocks; but the houses of the beavers stool
perfectly firm, and we're quite dry on the in
side; for by this time | had got familia,
enough TO take peep without disturbing
them at all.
Different materials, wood, stone, and ,
kind of sandy earth, were used in the con
struction of these houses; the wood wa
principally that of alders, willows and non
lars which grew on the bank of the river
and were more easily cut, stripped Of thei
bark and transported, than heavier and NOR,
solid trees could have been. The beaver
cut them off about foot from the ground
They do this in sitting posture, and EMO,
at the same time the pleasures of gnawins
the bark and wood which is their favorit,
food. After the cabins were finished, III,
beavers employed themselves in laying !.
ample stores Of provisions. This seemed b