$0 GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF THE 



attention to the color of the streams which empty into 

 the Arkansa ; thus, all the rivers which enter from 

 the north or north-west, bring down either water 

 which is clear, or rendered turbid with grey colored 

 earths and clays, while on the opposite side come in a 

 number of streams which are charged with turbid 

 water, always of a reddish brown color. Such are 

 the Canadian, and the three Saline rivers, whose 

 waters, except that of the former, are at all times im- 

 potably saline. Still further traciug the locality of 

 this production, we find that the red water of the Ca- 

 nadian is the produce of its main southern branches, 

 which all the hunters and traders assert to derive 

 their sources with the head waters of Red river, and 

 the Spaniards inform us, as a well known matter of 

 fact, that Red river originates in the mountains of 

 Santa Fe, of Rio del Norte. The northern branch of 

 the Canadian is said to proceed almost parallel with 

 the Arkansa, and possesses clear water in common 

 with its tributary the lesser North river, which 

 sources in the immediate vicinity of the Arkansa, and 

 makes a very near approach to the great Saline river 

 of the Paunees, already mentioned. It is in the im- 

 mediate neighbourhood of the second river of Saline 

 water, that Dr. Sibley was conducted by the Osages 

 to what are commonly called the salt plains, where 

 this mineral appears in place, and lies scattered over 

 the surface of the ground. These beds of salt and 

 clay very improperly and vaguely laid down in the 

 maps as so many lakes of salt water, are nothing 



