Mineralogy, Medicine, Sfc. 19 'i 



and astonishment, which is increased by beholding the entire 

 works for the manufacture of nitre situated in its interior. The 

 native nitrate of potash is found in beautiful white crystals, 

 investing the fissures of the limestone rock which forms the 

 walls of this cave ; and several others in its vicinity exhibit 

 the same phenomenon." — Schoolcroft, Lead Mines of Missouri. 



5. Hot Springs of Ouachitta. ( Washitaw. J— Theie springs, 

 which have been known for many years, are situated on a 

 stream called Hot-spring Creek, which falls into the Washitaw 

 river eight miles below. They lie fifty miles south of the 

 Arkansaw river, in Clark county, territory of Arkansaw, (lately 

 Missouri,) and six miles west of the road from Cadron to 

 Mount Prairie on Red River. 



The approach to the springs lies up the valley of the creek. 

 On the right of the valley rises the hot mountain with the 

 springs issuing at its foot ; on the left, the cold mountain, which 

 is little more than a confused and mighty pile of stones. The 

 hot mountain is about 300 feet high, rising quite steep and 

 presenting occasionally ledges of rocks, it terminates above in 

 a confused mass of broken rocks. The steep and otherwise 

 steril sides are covered with a luxuriant growth of vines. The 

 valkybetweenthis and the cold mountain is about fifty yards wide. 



The springs issue at the foot of the hot mountain at an ele- 

 vation of about ten feet above the level of the creek ; they are 

 very numerous all along the hill-side, and the water which runs 

 in copious streams is quite hot; it will scald the hand and boil 

 an egg hard in ten minutes. Its temperature is considered that 

 of boiling water, but Dr. Andrews, of Red River, thinks it is not 

 above 200° Fahr. There is a solitary spring situated seventy 

 feet higher than the others on the side of the mountain, but it 

 is of an equal temperature and differs in no respect from those 

 below. A dense fog continually hangs over the springs and 

 upon the side of the hill, which at a distance looks like a num- 

 ber of furnaces in blast. To this fog, condensed into water, is 

 attributed the rank growth of the vines on the side of the 

 mountain. 



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