The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-03-09
Scenes in the Rocky Mountains,

From Rux,on's Adventures in Mexico and the
Rocky Mountains
BEAVER has 50 deprecated in value with
IN the last few years, that trapping has al
most been abandoned the price pal for the
skin Of this valuable animal havin, fallen
from six TO eight dollars per pound 10 one
dollar, which hardly pays the expenses Of
Inc traps, animals, and equipments for the
hunt, aud IL certainly 10 adequate remuur-
ration for the incredible hardships, toll, and
danger, which are undergone by the hardy
trarpers IN the course Of their adventurous
expeditions. The cause Of the great de-
crease in value Of beaver fur is the substi.
tu'e which has been found for il in skins of
the fnr-scal and nutria-thr improved prep.
aration Of other skins Of little value, such
rs the hare and rabbit-and, more than all.
III the use Of silk in the manufacture of hats.
which has IN a great measure superseded
that Of the beaver. Thus the course of the
trapper is levcllcd against all the new. fash
l0neh materials Of Paris hats; and the light
and (h)airy goSsamar of twelve and-sl is
mathematical in the mountains in way
which would be highly distressing 10 the
feelings OF McSSrs Jubb aud johnson, and
other artist, III the venliaiibg goS> amar line.
thanks To the Innovation, however, n ut.
Tie breathing time has been allowed ihep,r.
scented castor; and this valuable fur. bear.
ing animal, which otherwise would, in the
course OF few years, have become extinct.
has now chance Of multiplying, and will
III short time again become abundant: for
although not very prolific animal, the bea
yer has perhaps, fewernatural enemies than
nj Ilr Of
al The same tune wise and careful one,
provides against all contingencies Of cold
aud hunger, which in northern climates car.
ry OH 50 large proportion Of their brother
beasts.
The beaver was once found m every part
OF North America from Canada 10 the gulf
OF Mexico, but has now gradually retired
from the Entertainments and persecnions of
civilized man, and is met " iih only in the
far, Far West, on the tributaries ofihe great
rivers, and the streams which water the
monntaln'valIcys in the great chain of the
Rocky Mountains. On the waters of the
Platte and Arkansas they are still uumer-
Gus, ard within the last two years have in
creased considerably in numbers: but the
best trapping ground now is on the streams
running through the Bayou Salado, and the
old aud New Parks, all OF which are cleya.
ted mountain valleys.
The habits Of the beaver present quite a
study TO the naturalist, and they are GER
'alnly the most Sagacinu,ly instructive Of all
qnadrupedS. Their dams afford lesson TO
the engineer, their houses a study forthr ar.
cmtect Of comfortable abudss. while their
interchangeable and unrcmittius labor &. indus
try are models TO be followed by the work
ing-man. The lodge Of the beaver is gen.
orally excavatcd IN the stream, tae entrance
being invariably under water; but not I'm
frequently, where the banks are flat they
--.--''.--. BE" i's '''~ r',V"uI usru, ~ 4
c0nical form, of Limbs and branches woven
together and cementcd with mud. Forthe
purpose OF forming dams, for the necessa-
~ timber for their lodges, or for the bark
which they store for their winters supply
OF food, the beaver often fells tree eight
or ten inches IN diameter, throwing il, with
the skill Of an expert woodsmaii, in any d.
rec,ion he pl ases, always selecting a tree
above stream, in order that the logs may be
carried down with it to their destination.
The log is then chopped into small lengths
and, pushing them into the water, the hca.
yer steers them TO the lodge or dam The
trees are as Clearly cut as they could be by
a sharp ak, the gUnging burrows made by
the ANIMALS strong teeth cutting into the
very center OF the trunk, the notch being 5
smooth as sawed wood.
With his broad tail which is twelve or
fourteen inches long, and about four in
breadth, and covered with thick scaly skin
the beaver plasters his lodge, thus making
it perform all the offices of a hand. They
say that, when the beavers tail become
dry. the animal dies, but, whether this is
the case or not, have myself seen the bea
yer At work return to the water aud plunge
his tail into the stream, aud then resume his
labor with renewed vigor; and have also
seen them, with their bodies on the bank
humping the water with their tails with a
most comical perseverance.
The female seldom produces more than
three kittens nj birth. but know an in
stance whore one was killed with Young,
having no less than eleven in her. They
live 10 n considerable age, and | once ate
the tail Of an old 'mau" beaver whose head
was perfectly gray with age, and his beard
was at the same venerable hue, notwi,h
Standing which his tail was as tender rs n
young racoou. The kittens are rs playful
rs their namrSakrs NJ the feline race. mud il
IL highly amusing to see nu old one with
crotc>quc gravity melting her Young to gam
hol about her, while she herself is engaged
about some household work.
The nuiriGS of Mcyico are identical with
the beavers Of the northern parts of North
America. a species of seal. or, MS have
heard il described, a hybrid between the
seal and the beaver, is called nuiria quite
distinct animal, however, from the Mexi-
can nuirid.
The irappers of the Rocky Mountains be-
long to "senn," more approXiaating to
the primitive savage than perhaps any 9th.
err class of civilized man. Iheirlives being
spent in the remote wilderness oflhe noun.
tans, with no other companion than Nature
herself, their habits aud character assume n
most singular cas-, of simplicity mingled with
ierociiy, appearing TO take their coloring
from the scenes and objects which surround
them. Knowing no wants saving those OF
nature, their sole care is to produce suIli.
cient food TO support life, and the necessary
clothing TO protect them from the rigorous
climate. This, with the assistance of their
trusty rifles, they are generally able to eff
Get, but sometimes ut the expense Of great
peril and hardships. When engaged in
their avoca,ion, the natural instinct of man
is ever alive, for the purpose of guarding A..