OF THE POLAR SEA. 307 
@ 
walked about three miles 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. t 
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 
firé 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 
X2 
