100 Thirty Years 
Salt River, and pitched our tents, intending to remain 
here this and the next day for the purpose of fishing. 
After breakfast, which made another inroad on our 
preserved meats, we proceeded up the river in a light. 
canoe, to visit the salt springs, leaving a party behind 
to attend the nets, This river is about one hundred 
yards wide at its mouth. Its waters did not become 
brackish until we had ascended it seven or eight 
miles; but when we had passed several rivulets-of 
fresh water which flowed in, the main stream became 
very salt, at the same time contracting to the width 
of fifteen or twenty yards. Ata distance of twenty- 
two miles, including the windings of the river, the 
plains commence. Having pitched the tent at this 
spot, we set out to visit the principal springs, and 
walked about three miles when the musquitoes com- 
pelled us to give up our project. We did not see the 
termination of the plains towards 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 evapora- 
tion takes place, and large heaps of salt are left 
behind crystalized in the form of cubes. Some beds 
of greyish compact gypsum were exposed on the sides 
