"You might tell me something about these Indians, nurse," said little
Mary.
"I might occupy whole days in describing their singular customs, my dear," replied Mrs. Frazer, "and I fear you would forget one half of what I told you. But there are numerous interesting books in reference to them, which you will read as you grow older. You would be much amused at the appearance of an Indian chief, when dressed out in the feathers we have been speaking of, his face covered with red paint, his robe flowing loose and free, and his calumet, or pipe, gaily decked with ribbons. The Indians are great orators, being distinguished by their graceful gestures, their animated air, and their vigorous and expressive style. They are tall well made, and athletic, their complexion of a reddish copper colour, their hair long, coarse, and jet black. Their senses are remarkably acute, and they can see and hear with extraordinary distinctness. They will follow up the track of a man or animal through the dense woods and across the vast plains by trifling signs, which no European can detect. Their temperament is cold and unimpassioned, they are capable of enduring extreme hunger and thirst, and seem almost insensible to pain. Under certain circumstances they are generous and hospitable, but when once roused, their vengeance is not easily satisfied. They will pursue a real or supposed foe with a hatred which never tires, and gratify their lust of cruelty by exposing him, when captured, to the most horrible torments. They support themselves by fishing and on the spoils of the chase; and though a few tribes have become partially civilized, and devoted themselves to the peaceful pursuits of husbandry, the majority retire further and further into the dense forests of the west as the white man continues his advance, and wander, like their forefathers, about the lonely shores of the great lakes, and on the banks of the vast rolling rivers."
"Thank you, nurse; I will not forget what you have told me. And now, have you anything more to say about birds and flowers? I can never weary of hearing about such interesting objects."
"I promised to tell you about the beavers, my lady," replied Mrs. Frazer.
"Oh yes, about the beavers that make the dams and the nice houses, and cut down whole trees. I am glad you can tell me something about those curious creatures; for mamma bought me a pretty picture, which I will show you, if you please," said the little girl. "But what is this odd-looking, black thing here? Is it a dried fish? It must be a black bass. Yes, nurse, I am sure it is."
The nurse smiled, and said: "It is not a fish at all, my dear; it is a dried beaver's tail. I brought it from the back lakes when I was at home, that you might see it. See, my lady, how curiously the beaver's tail is covered with scales; it looks like some sort of black leather, stamped in a diaper pattern. Before it is dried it is very heavy, weighing three or four pounds. I have heard my brothers and some of the Indian trappers say, that the animal makes use of its tail to beat the sides of the dams and smooth the mud and clay, as a plasterer uses a trowel. Some people think otherwise, but it seems well suited from its shape and weight for the purpose, and, indeed, as the walls they raise seem to have been smoothed by some implement, I see no reason to disbelieve the story."
"And what do the beavers make dams with, nurse?"
"With small trees cut into pieces, and drawn in close to each other; and then the beavers fill the spaces between with sods, and stones, and clay, and all sorts of things, that they gather together and work up into a solid wall. The walls are made broad at the bottom, and are several feet in thickness, to make them strong enough to keep the water from washing through them. The beavers assemble together in the fall, about the months of October and November, to build their houses and repair their dams. They prefer running water, as it is less likely to freeze. They work in large parties, sometimes fifty or a hundred together, and do a great deal in a short time. They work during the night."
"Of what use is the dam, nurse?"
"The dam is for the purpose of securing a constant supply of water, without which they could not live. When they have enclosed the beaver-pond, they separate into family parties of eleven or twelve, perhaps more, sometimes less, and construct dwellings, which are raised against the inner walls of the dam. These little huts have two chambers, one in which they sleep, which is warm and soft and dry, lined with roots and sedges and dry grass, and any odds and ends that serve their purpose. The feeding place is below; in this is stored the wood or the bark on which they feed. The entrance to this is under water, and hidden from sight; but it is there that the cunning hunter sets his trap to catch the unsuspecting beavers.