360 APPENDIX. 



deposits, muriate of soda always occupies a position contiguous 

 to that of gypsum. This intimate connection between the sul- 

 phate of lime and the muriate of soda, enables us, by the discovery 

 of the one, to predict, with considerable but not unerring certainty, 

 the presence of the other. It adds weight to an observation first 

 made among the salt formations of Europe, to find its general 

 correctness corroborated by the relative position of these sub- 

 stances in the United States. These remarks will apply particu- 

 larly to the salt formations of New York, and to some portions 

 of the muriatiferous region of Virginia and the Arkansas. 



There appears to be a salt formation extending from the north- 

 west angle of the Ohio through Michigan, for a distance of two 

 hundred to three hundred miles. It commences in the Seweekly 

 country, passing around the Sandusky River of Lake Erie, where 

 an extensive bed of granular gypsum has recently been discovered, 

 and continues, probably, northwest, so as to embrace the Saganaw 

 basin, and reach quite to the end of the peninsula, and embracing, 

 perhaps, the Gypsum Islands of Lake Huron, ten miles northeast 

 of Michilimackinac. All the brine springs and gypsum beds 

 noticed in the region are situated in the line of this formation. 



During the fall of 1821, a number of gentlemen at the Island 

 of Michilimackinac united in the expenses of a tour for exploring 

 the Skeboigon River, a stream which originates in the peninsula 

 of Michigan, and flows into Lake Huron opposite the Island of 

 Bois Blanc. The particular object of this party was to ascertain 

 the precise locality of certain salt springs reported to exist upon 

 that stream. They proceeded to the places indicated, and ex- 

 amined several springs more or less impregnated with salt, but 

 reported that, owing to the jealousy and hostility of those bands 

 of Indians who were found upon that stream, they were not en- 

 abled fully to accomplish the object in view. 



There are several salt springs reported to exist near the Indian 

 village of Wendagon, on the Sciawassa River, and others on the 

 Titabawassa River, the principal tributaries of the Sagana. Little 

 is, however, known respecting these springs, but the water is re- 

 presented to be so strongly impregnated, that the Indians manu- 

 facture from it all the salt necessary for their villages. 



Grand River Yalley has also been mentioned among the locali- 

 ties of salt water and gypsum rocks. 



