The chimney is formed by four poles of the proper length, interlaced with a wicker-work of small branches.

A hole or pit is dug, near at hand, and, with a mixture of clay and water, a sort of mortar is formed.

Large wisps of hay are filled with this thick substance, and fashioned with the hands into what are technically called "_clay cats_," and these are filled in among the frame-work of the chimney until not a chink is left.
The whole is then covered with a smooth coating of the wet clay, which is denominated "plastering." Between the logs which compose the walls of the building, small bits of wood are driven, quite near together; this is called "chinking," and after it is done, clay cats are introduced, and smoothed over with the plaster.

When all is dry, both walls and chimney are whitewashed, and present a comfortable and tidy appearance.
The roof is formed by laying upon the transverse logs thick sheets of bark.

Around the chimney, for greater security against the rain, we took care to have placed a few layers of the palisades that had been left when Mr.Peach, an odd little itinerant genius, had fenced in our garden, the pride and wonder of the surrounding settlement and wigwams.
While all these matters were in progress, we received frequent visits from our Indian friends.