Life of Kit Carson, the Great Western Hunter and Guide: Comprising Wild and ...

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Preface

In preparinga liistory of the life and adyentores (flTone who is not yet deceased, many difficulties are of ootuse interposed oetween the author and his subject

Chiefest of these, is the proverbial modesty of the subject of this volume, and next, the &ct that the soune of his deeds and daring^ is so far removed £rom access, as to render personal examination next to impossible. This work, therefore, has been compiled firom such official reports of his skill, energy, and courage, as have been communicated by hiis friend and commander; Gol/Fitexnoiit: xfho j?.cypf fails to award him all the attributes wHich contribute to make up a man.

Added to the^, h^}m l^een tempted years ago to communieate to the prces some of the records of the most important passages in V'S ^eaf(ii!i Jife/ which are embodied in this volume. His has been indeed a life of personal hazards, adventures, daring coolness, and moral and physical* courage, such as has rarely been ^imished in the world ; and it is a stource of regret to all with whom his name is a household word, that his modesty has deprived them of an authentic

history of his deeds. .

4 PREFACE.

Circumstances oyer wHcli the publishers had no controli compelled the preparation and issue of this work within a I>eriod so limited, as to justify the author in requesting forbearance on the part of his readers for errors of language or style ; and he desires to acknowledge, with grateM apprecia- Idon, tho valuable assistance rendered in the course of its preparation, by a lady who unites to high intellectual culture, and refined taste, the greaife experience of travel ; having crossed the plains firom Sacramento to Leavenworth on mtUe hack, a feat, he believes, never before nor since performed by any female traveler. . She is, in fact, a yoxmg Ida lyeiffer, and it is only at her own earnest instance, that her name is withheld.

As a record, imperfect though it may be, of deeds of coolness, daring, energy, and perseverance, under apparently insurmountable difficulties, the author hopes it may awaken interest in the history of this modem Nimrod, which has thus far been shrouded in mystery for the reasons above stated, and afibrd an incentive to the rising generation, to encourage them in honorable ambition.

• • • •

•••

CHAPTBB I.

Hero of the narratiTe — ^firom wliat raoe descended— liis &me — dieater of lus exploits — natiyity — ^his father emigrates to Missouri — Cher's occupation — ^Kifs apprenticesliip — dissatisfaction with his trade — joins an expedition to Santa Fe — surgical operation — Santa Fe, its situation, business, style of buildings, water, appearance, altitude, scenery, population — spends the winter at Taos — fleams the Spanish language — joins a party bound to Missouri — ^returns to Santa Fe — becomes a teamster-— £1 Paso, its grape culture, style of living of its people, name — youth of traveler — new occupation for the winter — becomes interpreter for a trader. 18

Chapter II. ^

Chihuahua, cathedral, statues, public buildings, convent, mint, trade, age, population — Carson longs for the prairie —changes employment — ^returns to Taos — joins a party of hunters a;;^ trappers to punish the Indians — ^result of the aflBray — ^Indian style of fighting — ^method of trapping for beaver — beaver signs — setting the traps — ^bait —

&stening the traps--K$aution in setting the traps 21 i 6 CONTENTS.

Chapter III

Corson s qualifioatipns for a trapper — starts for California— desert in the route — ^Mohave Indians, non-interconrse with whites, appearance, dress, ornaments, painting their bodies, money — ^Mission San Gabriel, cattle, horses, sheep, mules, yineyards,'inoome— other Missions in California, when founded, laborers^-Missions of Upper California — ^Missionary subscriptions — ^management of the fund — Commandante-general — ^the Monks — golden age of the Missions ••••• 29

Chapter VII

Visit to a ranche — ^likes California, but likes buffalo better — ^leaves Los Angelos, and traps on the Colorado— in a tight place, but gets out of it 66

CHAPTER VIIJ.

Trapping with Young upon the Colorado-^captnres cattle and horses from the Indians — goes to Santa Fe, disposes of fbrSiai^d sows his wi}d oats — caureun des hois, travels,

Contents

dress, liabi to— joins Mr. Fitzpatriok trapping among tlie Nez Forces — ^winters in the New Park — ^pnnisheB tlie Grow Indians for horse-stealing — porsnes and punishes » robbers of a cache — ^flies from a party of sixty Lidians... 76

Chapter IX

Hnnts with two companions — saving his money — trading with Captain Lee — ^pnrsnes an Indian horse-thief and recovers the horses without assistance— traps on the Laramie — fight with two griztlies— description of the grizzly bear, his food — traps among the Blackfeet— unsuccessfril attempt to cliastise Blaokfeet horse-thieves^- Carson is wounded — ^Bridger^s pursuit without finding : them i 88

Chapter X

Carson, recovered, attends summer rendezvous on Green River— description of the rendezvous— camp, traders, charges — ^British Fur Company — the Indians bringing in frirs — appearance of Montreal at a fiur for the Indians — trappers and traders from the States-^purchases of the trai^rs, necessaries, luzunee, Indian wi& 98

Chapter XI

Green River rendezvous again — ^the backwoodsman — Carson the peace-maker — Sherman the bully, his punishment—cause of the duel — ^tn^ping and parley with the Blackfeet — on Humboldt River — explores the desertdiscovers the river afterwards named for him 101

Chapter XII

Dreary prospect on the Humboldt — ^Humboldt Lake — sinks of other rivers — overflow of Humboldt Lake and River — station at the sink, the traders^-Humboldt Indians — Fourth of July on the Humboldt — ^Humboldt sinking — land available for agriculture on this river 100

8 COirrENTS*

Chapter XIII. Pao«

Carson on the Hnmboldt — sufFerings of the return pariy-^ Pyramid Circle — a horse purchased for food — ^bnfialo hunt, meat jerked — ^horses stolen by the Indians— exitent of bufi&ilo ranges — ^bu£yo upon the Platte in 1857| numbers, trails crossing the river, animals killed 116

Chapter XIV

Carson traps with a party of a hundred in the Blackfeet country — ^winter camp among the Crows — ^Indian lodges — winter life of the trappers — fight with the Blackfeet — .Carson saves the life of a friend, dislodges the Indians from a rocky fastness, and compels their flight — ^no more molestation — ^the rendezvous — ^trade with the Navjyos Indians — ^fort at Brown^s.Hole — goes again against the Blackfeet, a thousand warriors assemble, retire without an engagement^-^raps on the Salmon River — among the Blackfeet, another fight, leaves, their cotmtry — Chinook and Flathead Indians — ^process of flattening the head... 125

Chapter XV

Carson ccmtinues trapping — ^the trade becomes xmprofitable -rwar of extermination upon the beaver, silk for hats prevents — Carson's experience enables him to aid one who should explore in behalf of science — ^knowledge of the country— comes to Bent's Fort, forsaking trapping —becomes himter for the fort — his employers — ^his business — ^reputation as a himter^— frdfills the ei^ly hopes of him — ^knowledge of the coimtry — ^regard shown him, especially by the Indians — diplomatist between the Sioux and the Camanches — ^marriage-— death of his wife — takes his child to St. Louis for education— changes at his old home — ^reception at St. Louis — ^meets Col. Fremont—engages to guide Fremont's exploring party to the South Pass in the Rocky Mountuns 139

Chapter XVI

Party of explorers Btarting — style of enoamping— defense — moming in camp— ford <^ the Kansas — India-nbber boat — accident from oyerloading tlie boat — Carson ill*- lies in camp on the prairie ^ - ll>2

Chapter XVII

Road over rolling prairie — Pawnee eonntry — ^fidse alarm of the presence of Indians — Carson rides to discorer the cause — coast of the Platte River — ^party of tn^pers firom Fort Laramie— one of this party joins Fremont's company — ^bn£yo— appearance of the herds — feasting in the camp-— Carson's mishap in the hunt — Carson, Maxwell, and Fremont join in the chase 167-

Chapter XVIII

Eremont divides his party — attempt to lasso a wild horse — Maxwell prevents ah Indian attack — ^Indians on a buffalo hunt — ^return laden with meat — Cheyenne village—" tripod support for their weapons — ^Fremont entertained by the chief — ^tribute to the Gbreat Spirit on taking the pipe — Jim Beckwith— other settlers on the mountain streams — St. Vrain's Fort — ^Fort Laramie — Carson's camp — excitement in the company-^hostile intentions of the Indians — ^preparations for continuing the explorations — one of the command dismissed 167

Chapter XIX

rhe growth of Artemisia — ^fate of the Indian party so much dreaded — cciche of wagons and other effectsvalue of Carson's aid to Fremont — ^propriety of calling this an exploring party — ^astjent to the South Pass — exploration up a tributary of Green River — ^lake at its source— continue to explore in the mountains — ^Fremont climbs the highest sumrait — why Carson was not with him 179

Chapter XX

Party returns to Fort Laramie — Carson remains — marriage — joins Fremont— a second exploring expedition — object of the expedition — Great Salt Lake — ^Fremont's

* description — onrrent impressions in regard to the lake — ^Beer Springs — ^Hot Springs-^-Standing Bock 188

Chapter XXI

A part of Fremont's men return East — ^leave Fort Hall, en route for the valley of the Columbiar— difficulty of finding camping places — Carson kills buffalo — ^melan- . oholy looking country-crossing Snake River — ^fish-eating Indians — ^refitting equipage at the Dalles — ^proposed return route — spirits of the party^-Tlamadi Lake — sufiferings of the party 208

Chapter XXII

Fremont's story of the difficulties and exposures of his parfy — ^hot springs-explorations for grass— moimtaan lake — central ridge of the Sierra Nevada — Indians — talks by signs — ^Indian guide— encouragement afibrded by Carson's descripljjons of California — ^provisions low — snow deep— animals weak — ^Indian harangue — ^guide deserts — Carson recognizes Sacramento valley and the 4M)ast range— taking the horses through the snow — sleds for the baggage — ^pine nuts the food of the Indians — glorious sunrise 217

Chapter XXIII

Thunder storm — ^view of the Sapramento, and Bay of San Francisco — ^mauls to path the snow — Carson saves Fremont from drowning — rapid river, snow, grass, pines, live oak, mistletoe — division o.f the party — horses lost — members of the party wander, jetum — horses killed for food— <50untry improving in bea.uty — arrival at Sutter's Fort— description of tt cache •« .#. 237

•AAS

Chapter XXIV

Carson at home in Taos — decides to commence fanning — preparations — ^Fremont requests his service for a third expedition — meeting at Bent's Fort — head-waters— Great Salt Lake — expedition diyides — ^Horse-Thief Indians — the skirmish... 259

Chapter XXV

Arrival at Sutter's Fort— ^mmand of Glen. Castro to leave the country — ^his march against Fremont — ^Fremont departs for Oregon — ^Indians instigated by the Mexicans, Fremont's march against them — ^he returns to California — another Indian fight 264

Chapter XXVI

Loss to Fremont's party — Carson's attack upon Indian village — start for the Sacramento— Fremont's campaign against ilie Mexicans— captures Sonoma — calls American settlers into his service — Gkn. Castro leaves San Francisco — ^Fremont garrisons Sutter's Fort — marches to Monterey — Commodore Sloat in possession — ^hoists the flag of the United States 273

Chapter XXVII

Fremont marches on, and occupies Los Angelos — appointed Governor of California — Carson starts for Washington as bearer of dispatches— unexpected meeting with Apache Indians — meets the expedition of Qen. Kearney — returns to California as guide 280

Chapter XXVIII

March to Califomia — ^Mexicans intercept Kearney's tro€ipe — ^American attack on the Mexican force: — disastrous result — Carson and Lieut. Beale reach San Diegp— reinforcements sent by Com. Stockton— capture of Los Angelos — ^Mexicans surrender to Fremont — ^want of harmony in the American camps 2285

Chapter XXIX

Grapliio desoription of the entrance into Monterey, of Fremont, Carson, and party — indiscretions of American offioent — ^Kearney's dispatch to the War Department — Fremont's extraordinary ride 302

Chapter XXX. •

Fremont yisita his Mariposa' purchase — grand hnnt and ball — the fandango— Carson and Beale ordered to Washington — kind reception — appointed to a lientenancy — encounter with Camanches — ^arrival at Los Angelos — sent to the Tejon Pass — again to Washington — arrival at home — ^the warlike Apaches — Carson entertains Fremont and suffering explorers ...« 815

Chapter I

As, for their intrepid boldness and stern truthfulness, the exploits and deeds of the old Danish sea-kings, have, since the age of Canute, been justly heralded in song and story ; so now by the world-wide voice of the press, this, their descendant, as his name proves him, is brought before the world : and as the stern integrity of the exploits and deeds of the old Dane^ in the age of Canute were heralded by song and story ; so too, in this brief and imperfect memoir, are those of one who by name and birthright claims descent from them. The subject of the present memoir, Christopher Carson, familiarly known under the appellation of Kit Carson, is one of the most extraordinary men

14 LIFE OF CHKISTOPHEK CAKSON.

of the present era. His fame has long been established throughout this country and Europe, as a most skillful and intrepid hunter, trapper, guide, and pilot of the prairies and mountains of tUe far West, and Indian fighter. But his celebrity in these characters is far surpassed by that of his individual personal traits of courage, coolness, fidelity, kindness, honor, and friendship. The theatre of his exploits is extended throughout ijhe whole western portion of the territory of the United States, from the Mississippi to the Pacific, and his associates have been some of the mpst distinguished men of the present age, to all of whom he has become an object of affectionate regard and marked respect. The narrative which follows will show his titles to this distinction, so far as his modesty (for the truly brave are always modest) has permitted the world to learn anything of his history.

It appears by a recent biography of Christopher Carson* that hei is a native of Madison county, Kentucky, and 'was born on the 24th of December, 1809. Colonel Fremont, in his Report of his Exploring Expedition to Oregon

* Life and AdyentuTes of Kit Carson, the Nestor of the Booky Mountains, horn facts narrated by himself. By De Witt C. Peters, M. D^ late Assistant Surgeon, U. S. A.

LEFE OF CHRISTOPHEB CARSON. 16

and North California, in 1843-44, says that Carson is a native of Boonslick county, Missouri ; and from his long association with the hunter, he probably makes the statement on Carson's own authority. The error,' if it is an error, may have arisen from the feet stated by Mr. Peters, that Carson's father moved from Kentucky to Missouri, when Christopher was only one year old. He settled in what is now Howard county, in the central part of Misfiouri.

At the time of Mr. Carson's emigration, Missouri was called Upper Louisiana, being a part of the territory ceded to the United States by France in 1803, and it became a separate State, under the name of Missouri, in 1821. Wh^n Mr. Carson removed his family from Kentucky, .%nd settled in the new territory, it was a wild region, naturally fertile, thus f&voring his views ms a cultivator ; abounding in wild game, and affording a splendid field of enterprise for the hunter, but infested on all sides with Indians, often hostile, and always treacherous.

As Mr. Carson united the pursuits of farmer ind hunter, and lived in a sort of block-house or fort, as a precaution against the attacks of the neighboring Indians, his son became accustomed to the presence of danger, and the necessity of earnest Mtion and industry from Lj» earliest childhood.

At the age of fifteen, Kit Carson was apprenticed to Mr. Workman, a saddler. This trade requiring close confinement, was, of course, utterly distasteful to a boy already accustomed to the use of the rifle, and the stirring pleasures of the hunter's life, and at the end of two years, his apprenticeship was terminated, for kW who, ^th Ms experience as the son of a noted hunter, himself perfectly familiar with the rifle, and, young as he was, acknowledged to be one of the best and surest shots, even in that State, where such merit predominated at that time over almost every other, could not bear in patience the silent, sedentary monotony, of his life, voluntarily abandoned the further pursuit of the trade, and sought the more active employment of a trader's life.

His new pursuit was ^ more congenial. He joined an armed band of traders in an expedition to Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico, This, at that period, (1826,^) was rather a perilous undertaking, on account of the Indian tribes who were ever ready to attack a trading caravan, when there was any prospect of over^ coming it. No attack was made on the party, however, and no incident of importance occiirred, if we except the accident to one of the teamsters who wounded himself by carelessly handling a loaded rifle, so as to render it ne« cessary to amputate his arm. In this operation Carson assisted, the surgical instnunents being a razor, an old saw, and an iron bolt, heated red hot, in order to apply the actual cautery. Notwithstanding this rough surgery, the man recovered.*

In November (1826) the party arrived at Santa Fe, the capital, and the largest town in the then Mexican province of New Mexico. This place is situated on the Rio Chiuto, or Santa Fe river, an affluent of the Rio Grande, from which it is distant about 20 miles. It was then, as now, the great emporium of the overland trade, which, since 1822, has been carried on with the State of Missouri. The houses are chiefly built of adobes^ or unburnt bricks, each dwelling forming a square, with a court in the centre upon which the apartments open. This mode of building, originally Moorish, prevails in -all the colonies settled by the Spaniards, as well as in Old Spain, and the oriental countries. It makes each house a sort of fortress, as General Taylor's troops learned to their cost at the siege of Monterey. The

2 * Ptters.

18 LIFE OF CHKISTOPHEB GARSON.

front entrance of each house is large enough to admit animals with their pa^ks.

Santa Fe is well, supplied with cool water from springs within its limits, and from fountains above the city near the neighbouring mountain. The appearance of the place is inviting and imposing, as it stands on a plateau elevated more than 7000 feet above the sea, and near a snow capped mountain, which rises 5000 feet above the level of the town ; but the population is said to be exceedingly depraved. The present pojJulation is about 5000; but at the time of Carson's first visit, it wa^ compar'- atively a small town.

Soon after their arrival at Santa Fe, Carson .left the trading band, which he had joined when he fibandoned the saddlery business, or trade, as the reader may choose to term it, and of which we have previously spoken, and proceeded to Fernandez de Taos. In this place Carson passed the winter of 1826-7, at the house of a retired mountaineer. And it was while residing there, that he acquired that thorough familiarity with the Spanish language, which, in after years, proved of such essential service to him. In the spring he joined a party bound for Missouri, but meeting another band of Santa Fe trades, he joined them and

LIFE OF CHBISTOPHEB CARSOIT. .19

returned to that place. Here his services being no longer required by the traders, he was again thrown out of employment. He now engaged himself as teamster to a party bound to El Paso, a settlement, or more properly a line of settlements, embracing a population of about 5,000, situated in the rich, narrow ralley whichL extends 9 or 10 miles along the right bank of the Rio Grande, in the Mexican State of Chihuahua, 350 miles S. by W. of Santa Fe. Here the grape is extensively cultivated, and considerable quantities of Ught wine and brandy, (called by the traders Pass wine and Pass brandy^ are made. The houses are like those of Santa Fe, built of adobes with earthen floors. With abundance of natural advantages, the people are content tq live without those appliances of civilized life, considered indispensable by the poorest American citizens. Glazed windows, chairs, tables, knives and forks, and similar every day conveniences are unknown even to the rich among the people of El Paso. The place is the chief emporium of the trade between New Mexico and Chihuahua, and its name, " the passage" is derived from the passage of the river through a gorge or gap in the mountain just above the town.

On his arrival at this place, young Carson might justly be considered in view of his age, (not yet 18,) more than an ordinary traveler. He had arrived at a spot where everything was strange to him. New people, new customs, a new climate, a wine country, a population of mixed breed,^alf Indian, half Spaniard — everything wearing a foreign aspect ; everything totally different from his home in Missouri.

He did not remain long in this place, but returned to Santa Fe, whence he again found his way to Taos, where he passed the winter in the service of Mr. Ewing Young, in the humble capacity of cook; this he soon forsook forthe more pleasant and profitable position of Spanish interpreter to a trader named Tramell, with whom he, for the second time, made the long journey to El Paso and Chihuahua.

Chapter II

GHiHUAHUAy where Carson had now arriyed, is the capital of the Mexican, province bearing the same name. It is situated on a small tributa^ry of the Conchos river, in the midst of a plain. It is regularly laid out and well built ; the streets are broad and some of them paved. Like other cities built by the Spaniards, it has its great public square, or Plaza Major, on one side of which stands the cathedral, an imposing edifice of hewn stone, built at a cost of 1300,000. It is surmounted with a dome and two towers, and has a handsome facade with statues of the twelve apostles, probably the first statues that Carson had ever seen. Other public buildings surround the square, and there is a fountain in the middle. The city contains a convent founded by the Jesuits, and an aqueduct 3 J miles long, supported by vast arches and communicating with the river Chihuahua.

It has also its mint, and in the neighborhooa

22 .LIFE OF CHEISTOPHER CARSOI^.

arfe silver mines with furnaces for melting the ore. It carries on an extensive trade with the United States by means of caravans to St. Louis in Missouri, and San Antonio in Texas. It was founded in 1691, and during the time when the silver mines were in successful operation, it contained 70,000 inhabitants. The population at present is 14,000.

As he had come with one of the trading caravans in the sejrice of Colonel Tramell aa Spanish interpreter, 'we might naturally expect that the engagement would he a permanent one. But such was ^noi, the case. The monotony of this life soon disgusted him, and after weary weeks passed in comparative idleness^ he longed again for the freedom of the prairie and the forest, and gladly abandoning the rather dignified position of interpreter to Colonel Tframell, entered into the service of Mr. Robert M. Knight, in the more humble capacity of teamster in an expedition to the copper mines on the river Gila, whence he soon after found his way back to Tao^.

It was during this visit to Taos that Carson was first enabled to gratify the desire which he had long' entertained of becoming a regular hunter and trapper. A party of trappers in the service of Carson's old friend, Mr. Ewing

Young, had returned to Taos, having been beaten off from their hunting and trapping grounds by a hostile band of Indians. Mr. Young ^ raised a party of forty men, for the double purpose of chastising the Indians, and resuming the business of trapping, and Carson joined them. The fact that he was accepted for this service was a marked token of esteem for his valor, as well as his skill in hunting, parties of this description always avoiding the enlistment of inexperienced recruits, as likely to en^batrass their operations in the field.

The ostensible object of the expedition was to punish the I^jdians, but its ultimate purpose was to trap for beavers. The Mexicans- by an express law had forbidden granting licenses to any American parties, and in this instance a circuitous route was chosen to conceal their real design.

They did not fall in with the Indians of whom they were in pursuit, until they haji reached the head of one of the afftuents of the Rio Gila, called Salt River. Once ip presence of their enemies they made short work with them, killing fifteen of thei'r warriors, and putting the whole band to rout. Such occurrences were by no means unfrequent, as we shall see in the course of this narrative. A small body of

24 LIFE OF CHRISTOPHER CABBOIH.

experienced hunters and trappers, confident in their superior skill and discipline, never hesitates to attack a greatly superior number of Indians, and it was a rare thing that success did not attend their daring. The Indian is not fond of a " fair stand up fight." He prefers stratagem and ambush, and reverences as a great " brave," the warrior who is most successful in circumventing his enemies, and bringing off many scalps without the loss of a man ; but when a considerable number of Indians are shot down in the first onset, the remainder g.re very apt to take to flight in every direction.

We have said that Carson joined the party of trappers under the command of Mr. Ewing Young, and it may ncft be out of place to describe briefly the mode of life which parties in that pursuit have to adopt, with a few remarks upon the habitd and haunts of the animal, for whose sWte men were then so willing to risk their lives, and to undergo such hardships.

The method of trapping for beaver formerly employed by the trappers in the western country, is thus described by one who has had considerable experience in the art ; and we quote it as illustrating the severe training to which Carson had voluntarily subjected himself:

LIFE OF CHBISTOPHEfi CAfiSOV. 25

"To be a suceessfol trapper, required great caution as well as a perfect knowledge of the habits of the animal. The residence of the beaver was often discovered by seeing bits of green wood, and gnawed branches of the bass* wood, slippery elm, and sycamore, their favorite food, floating on the water, or lodged on the shores of the stream below, as well as by their tracks or foot-marks.' These indications were technically called heaver sign. They were also sometimes discovered by tlieir dams, thrown across creeks and small sluggish streams, forming a pond in which were erected their habitations.

" The hunter, as heprotoeededto set his traps, generally approached by water, in his canoe. He selected a steep, abrupt spot in the bank of the creek, in which a hole was excavated with his paddle, as he sat in the canoe, sufficiently large to hold the trap, and so deep as to be about three inches below the surface of the water, when the jaws of the trap were expanded. About two feet above the trap, a stick, three or four inches in length, was stuck in the bank. In the upper end of this, the trapper excavated a small hole with his knife, into which he dropped a small quiantity of the essence, or perfume, which was used to attract the beaver to the spot. This stick was attached by a string of horse hair to the trap, and with it was pulled into the water. by the beaver. The reason for this was, that it might not remain after the trap was Sprung, and attract other beavers to the spot, and thus prevent their going to where there was another trap ready for them.

" The scent, or essence, was made by mingling the fresh castoj of the beaver, with an extract of the bark of the roots of the spice-bush, and kept in a bottle for use. The making of thi^ essence was held a profound secret, and often . sold for a considerable sum to the younger trappers, by the older proficients in the mystery of beaver hunting. Where they had no proper bait, they sometimes made use of the fresh roots. of sassafras, or spice-bush; of bo1;h these the beaver was very fond.

" It is Said by old trappers that they will smell the well-prepared essence the distance of a mile. Their sense of smell is very acute, or they would not so readily detect the vicinity of man by the smell of his trail. The aroma of the easence having attracted the animal into the vicinity of the trap, in his attempt to reach it, he has to climb up on to the bank where it is sticking. This effort leads him di-