MacDonell, John. Description of Lake Athabasca and the Chipweans, ca. 1805 and Journal of a Voyage from Lachine to Fort River Qu'Appelle, 1793. An electronic transcription. MFTP #0005

loads will be generally from twenty five to forty five Pounds. He is naturally of a peaceable disposition and never harms any other animal, but lives quietly in his own solitary cell with contentment and ease, as by his provident nature, he always keeps a small store of provisions in reserve.

The places where the Beaver most frequently build are on the sides of a small river, Lake, or Creek; and always at its least breadth on account of the facility of stopping the water. For the conveniency of forming the house, they make it a point to find a Bush growing out from under the water; they build all around it by diving with Stones, mud &c. [T]he foundation will be generally 2 feet below the surface of the water. On the side intended for the Bed they build considerably thicker, or such time as they get to the height of 2½ feet; they then leave a sufficient breadth for it, and carry up the wall the same thickness all around;– but as soon as the building is brought up even with the water, they begin to work at the Dams, which are carried across the

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