The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1831-12-21
From The Teachers Manual.
OF A BEAVER COLONY

Detroit, where we were 10 stay some lime
10 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 village. sit
uated on the borders of clear and swift
stream, which emptied into Lake Michigan.
! After we had succeeded in gaining the
confidence of the Indians, they permitted
us to 90, one at time, AMI watch the one
rations of the beavers; and, notwithstand-
/ ing all | heard, | could not but be aston
ished at the wonderful powers with which
our Creator has endowed them.
| The river was about a hundred feet wide
at this place, and they had constructed
across it a solid dam. as much as - feet
broad at the base. The Indians told us
they had labored in the construction of this
with wonderful perseverance. A LARGE
tree, the size round the trunk of a mans
body, had been first sawed off by their teeth
III such manner that It fell across the
stream; then they sawed off the branches
that 1t might lie level, many WORKING To-
gether with the greatest zeal and industry.
Some OF them at the same time trayersed
the banks of the river, and cut down small
ertrees. These they cut into equal lenptbs
sbarpened them at one end-draggcd them
by land to the margin of the river, and then
by water TO the place where they were gt,-
lug 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 supported them against the tree
which had before been laid across. Others
brought earth and filled all the inters,ices
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 9th er
The stakes facing the lower part of the
river were placed perpendlcularly but
hose which were opposed 10 the river slsp-
ed upwards TO sustain the pressure of the
water; so that the bank which is ten or
twelve feet wide at the base, is reduced to
two or three at the top.
They had taken another precanton, also.
against humiliation; they had made sloping
holes through the thinnest part of the en-
bankment to allow the surface water TO es
cape. that it might. act with less force
against the dam. When we made our first
visit to them, they had already separated
into smaller societies, and were making
their separate habtatiens all along the mar
gin of the river There were about twenty
OF these parties, with as many cabins near
ly finished there were two openings in
each. one for going to the land, and the
other for plungng into the water. These
buildings varied slightly Goth 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 plank, which served both for founda-
ton and floors for their houses. Those
houses, which were of but one story, rose
1pendicularly only few feet, and then
curved IN, terminating in dome, or vaulted
roof. They were all very solid and neatly
plastered, both within and without The
beavers were very busy when saw them,
in completing this plastenDg. using their
tails 10 mix the mortar, and their feet in
putting it on.
One day, while was very busy watching
them, heavy shower came on so sudde nly,
that | had not noticed its approach The
wind blew tempestuously all the time; and
1t was not till the storm had considerably
abated that could look about me, and oh
serve the condition of my friends the beav-
eTs. When | did so. | could not but re-
mark, with surprise. how comfortably and
how perfectly sheltered they had BEEN
They had Tetreated 10 the inside of their
cabins, where neither wind nor rain could
get at them. | observed large trees rooted
up, and fragments hurled from the rocks
but the houses of the beavers stood perfect
ly firm, and were quite dry on the inside,
for by this time had got familiar enough
to take peep without disturbing them at
all
Different materials, wood, stone, kind
of sandy earth, were used in the construc-
IA 81,
pally that of alders. willows. and poplars,
which grew on the banks of the river, and
were most easily cut, stripped of their bark,
and transported, than heavier and more solid
trees could have been. The beavers cut
them off about a foot from the ground
They do this in sitting posture, and enjoy
at the same time the pleasure OF gnawlng
the bark and wood, which is their favoTite
iood After the cabins were finished,
the beavers employ themselves in laying in
ample stores of provisions. This seemed TO
he done in exact proportion to the size of
the cabin and number of lis inhabI tants !;
and the Indians told us that they Mover pill
LACED from one another. Some families
consisted of only three or four Individuals:
the largest cabins contained thirty, but gen.
orally there were flom ten to fourteen in
hahlting one dwelling.
They never quarrel with one another
when danger approaches, they give notice
by striking their tails on the water. Some,
on such occasions plunge into The water for
security others conceal themselves within
their walls, which no animal will attempt
either to enter or oyerturn.
was charmed with the neatness of these
houses; the foors we're spread with the
green branches of the box and fir trees, and
were always quite clean. The window
that iaces the water answers for balcony
TO receive the fresh air, and tor the purpose
OF bathing. Those windows are made high
enough to prevent being stopped up with
ice; which is often two or three feet thick
on the riverit is very important to The beav-
ers to keep up a free communication with
the water; they often swim for a consider
able distance under the ice and their ia
vorite position wien in their houses, seem
ed to be sitting on an end at their windows,
with the lower part of the body in water.
In September, they collect their provi-
sions. From this time TILL the close of will
ter, they remain in their cabins, enjoy
the fruits of their labors, and the pleasures
of society. This is their time Of repose. In
the spring they separate the males retire
into the country to enjoy the pleasures and
the fruits OF the season. They return, how
ever, occasionally to their cabins but dwell
there no more. The females continue in the
cabins, and are occupied in nursing, pro-
tectiDg md rearing their young, which are
in q condition in few weeks TO follow lhelI
dams. Tho beavers do not assemble agar
till autumn unless their banks or cabins be
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