ae 
THE SALT PLAIN, 187 
westward, there are several of these salines, 
which are perhaps still more extensive. 
I have been favored with some extracts 
from the journal of Capt. Nathan Boone* of 
the United States’ Dragoons, who made an 
exploring tour through those desolate regions 
uring the summer of 1843. In his journey, 
between the Canadian and Upper Arkansas, 
he found efflorescent salt in many places, as 
well as a superabundance of strongly impreg- 
nated salt-water ; but, besides these, he visited 
two considerable salines. 
Of the first, which he calls the ‘ Salt Plain,’ 
he remarks, that “the approach was very gra- 
tifying, and from the appearance one might 
expect to find salt in a solid mass, for the 
whole extent of the plain, of several feet in 
thickness.” This is situated in the forks of 
the Salt Fork of the Arkansas. The plain is 
described as being level asa floor, and evi- 
dently sometimes overflowed by the streams 
which border it. Yet the extent of salt, it 
would seem, did not realize Capt. Boone’s 
anticipations, as he remarks that it was cover- 
ed “with the slightest possible film of crys- 
-tallized salt on the surface, enough to make 
it white.” But he explored only a small por- 
tion of the plain, which was very extensive. 
However, the most wonderful saline is the 
great Salt Rock, which he found further to the 
Capt. Boone is a son of the late Col. Daniel Boone, the cele 
tested pioneer of the West. Being of practical habits, and of ex- 
tensive experience upon those deserts, much weight is due to his 
observations. 
