OF THE POLAR SEA. 



197 



when the musquitoes compelled us to give up our project. We did 

 not see the termination of the plains toward the east, but on the 

 north and west they are bounded by an even ridge, about six 

 or seven hundred feet in height. Several salt springs issue from 

 the foot of this ridge, and spread their waters over the plain, which 

 consists of tenacious clay. During the summer much evaporation 

 takes place, and large heaps of salt are left behind crystallized in 

 the form of cubes. Some beds of greyish compact gypsum were 

 exposed on the sides of the hills. 



The next morning after filling some casks with salt for our use 

 during winter, we embarked to return, and had descended the river 

 a few miles, when turning round a point, we perceived a buffalo 

 plunge into the river before us. Eager to secure so valuable a prize, 

 we instantly opened a fire upon him from four muskets, and in a 

 few minutes he fell, but not before he had received fourteen balls. 

 The carcass was towed to the bank, and the canoe speedily laden 

 with meat. After this piece of good fortune, we descended the 

 stream merrily, our voyagers chanting their liveliest songs. On 

 arrival at the mouth of the river, we found that our nets had not 

 produced more than enough to supply a scanty meal to the men 

 whom we had left behind, but this was now of little importance as 

 the acquisition of meat we had made, would enable us to proceed 

 without more delay to Slave Lake. The Poisson Inconnu mentioned 

 by Mackenzie, is found here. It is a species of the Genus Salmo, 

 and is said by the Indians to ascend from the Arctic Sea, but being 

 unable to pass the cascades of the Slave River, is not found higher 

 than this place. In the evening a violent thunder-storm came on 

 with heavy rain ; thermometer 70°. 



At a very early hour on the following morning, we embarked, and 

 continued to paddle against a very strong wind and high waves, 

 under the shelter of the bank of the rivers, until two P.M., when 

 having arrived at a more exposed part of the stream, the canoes 



