Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1830-05-26

I -
the tree which had before been lai5 IS
Others brought earth and filed N a 4
sterStices between the piles. Tba.u-e y
consisted Of several rows of stakes
height, placed opposite to each oG'.. @
extending from ole bank of the r.v ,',', y
other. The stakes facing the lova.
of the river were placed perpeOjica
but those which were opposed 70 ~
sIoPed upwards To sustain the prsse '"'
the water; so that the bank, which n- r
or twelve feet wide at the base. was :,
TO two or tSee at the top. ''''
They had taken another precapto.
so. agaInst nundatloh: they had ma
iDs holes through the lhiancst o,,, ~
embankmenl 10 allow the surplus NJ,
escape, that It might act with l. s. CO.
galnst the dam. When we nade 9,
visit to them, they had already se,,,,
into smaller societies, and oere MI,
their separate habrtItons all alo,,
margin OF the river Their we're Al,
twenty OF these parties with rs lnany ~,
lbs nearly finisheJ-ihere were two IN
ings in each, one for going to The III
and the other for plunging INTO ihe w,,.
These buildings varied slightly boil
shape and sIze--sOme being round. ii.
oval; some Of them consisted of tv.
three stories; the walls were abou, Inv, h
thick; raised upon plank which serve
lor foundations and floors to their b
These houses which were Of but one s,.,.
rose 2erpendicularly only few feet. i,
then curved in, terminating in dome
yaulted roof. They were all very Il,
and neatly plastered both within and si
out. The beavers were very busy wbs,
first saw them, in completing this phv,
ing, using their tails to mix The mortar
their feet in putting it on.
One day, while ! was very busy val,b
ing them, a heavy shower came on sosej
denly that had not noticed its approsa
The wind blew very tempes.uously all Ia
time; and II was not until the storm had
{ considerably abated that could took about
me. and observe the condition ofmy friend,
the beavers. When did so, could no
but remark with surprise how comcuaB,
, and perfectly sheltered they had ben
They had reiterated to the inside Of The,
cabins, where neither wind nor rain cogR
get at them. observed large trees rooE
up and fragments hurried from the roca
, but the houses ofthe beavers stood perea
! ly firm and were quite dry on the insid,
for by this time, | had got familiar enouI
to take peep without disturbing themasl
J Different materials. wood, stone, and
kind Of sandy earth, were used in the COZ
. structlon of these houses; the wood va
3 principally that ofalders, willows anl Pop
lar. which grew on the bank Of the riTa
J and we're more easily cut, stripped olha
D bark and transported, than heavier and
more solid trees could have been. The
beavers cut them of about foot from D.
ground They do this in a sitting posinal
and enjoying at the same tlmethe pleasures
= of gnawing the bark and wood which 0
] their favorite food. After the cabins wen
d finished, the beavers employed themselves
b. IN laying in ample stores Of proyIsloi
}. This seemed to be done IN exact propg
D ton 70 the sire of the cabin and the con-
: Der ofinhabltants, aud the Indians told
j, that they never piIlaged from one anoihs
}, Some families consisted OF only three
, four individuals: the largest cabins con-
tanned thirty; but generally there were
e from ten to fourteen inhabltlng one Owe
. ling.
They never quarrel With one anoha
c When danger approaches, they give 90
= tice by striking their tails on the "a'e'
d Some, on such occasions, plunge into @
. water for security; others conceal lael'
selves within their walls, which no anlIai
will attempt either to enter or Oyeri@n
e Twas charmed with the neainess Of mos
ri houses; the floors we're spread WIN N
green branches Of The box and ilr ues'.
aud were always quite clean. Fhe Wiz
: dow that faces the water answers ~
l balcony to receive the fresh ar and ~
b. the purpose of bathing. Those Windows
are made high enough TO prevent beng
stopped up with the ice, which IS often w
or three feet thick on the river. ltsYep
important with the beavers to keep y.
free communication with the water u.9
+. always swim for a considerable time lno9
= the ice: their favorite position when 70 ul'.
0 houses, seemed to be sitting on an enc :
;, their windows, with the lower part o. q"
body in the water.
r In september they collect their Pro'I'loa.,-
G From this time ill the close Of the y'l.A
}. they remain in their cabins, enjoy the if'ls
j of their labo:s, and the pleasures Of ~ s.
e ty. This is their time TO ropose. ID ~
Spring they separate; the males re'I'e ~ y.
e the country to enjoy the pleasures ano . ~
. fruits Of the season. They return, Dow
= err, occasionally to their cabins but o.I I.