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CONCERNING LAPLAND. 219
lakes and rivers. Wonderful ftories are related of this animal, of
his extraordinary fagacity in conftructing his habitation for the
winter, which includes lodging and ftore rooms, befides a cold
bath; moreover, that in the conftruction of this habitation, he
makes ufe of his tail as a trowel, &c. all which are entertaining in
the perufal, but exceed the utmoft ftretch of probability. As
impoffible is it to believe that the beaver fhould fuffer himfelf to
be drawn about by his fellows, in order to form a carriage for
the conveyance of birchen fticks for building; a circumftance
which is inferred from the appearance of their fur being much
rubbed, as if this might not be more naturally accounted for, by
fuppofing their {kins to be thus {tripped of their hair from creep-
ing out and in of their haunts. Thefe narrations are to be feen
in the accounts of fome travellers, but we would rather refer to
them, than give them a place here, as we with more to inform
than merely to amufe. The cafforeum prepared from the beaver
is ufed as a medicine, and is faid to have the power of driving
away the whale from fhips or boats wherein it happens to be
found ; for which purpofe fifhermen occafionally take it to fea
with them. The Laplanders difpofe of the fkins they take in
Ruffia, the ufe of which in the manufacture of hats, and in lining
garments, is well known. White beavers have been obferved in
fome parts of Lapland; but this is merely a variety, or rather a
monftrous production of nature, and to be clafled with inftances
of the like kind in other four-footed animals as well as birds.
The beavers are taken in their lurking places by a trap door, which
BED, fhuts
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