OF THE POLAR SEA. 



133 



waters over the plain, which consists of 

 tenacious clay. During the summer much 

 evaporation takes place, and large heaps of 

 salt are left behind crystallized in the form 

 of cubes. Some beds of grayish compact 

 gypsum were exposed on the sides of the 

 hills. 



The next morning, after filling some 

 casks with salt for our use during winter, 

 we embarked to return, and had descended 

 the river a few miles, when, turning round 

 a point, we perceived a buffalo plunge into 

 the river before us. Eager to secure so 

 valuable a prize, we instantly opened a fire 

 upon him from four muskets, and in a few 

 minutes he fell, but not before he had re- 

 ceived fourteen balls. The carcass was 

 towed to the bank, and the canoe speedily 

 laden with meat. After this piece of good 

 fortune, we descended the stream merrily, 

 our voyagers chanting their liveliest songs. 

 On arrival at the mouth of the river, we 

 found that our nets had not produced more 

 I than enough to supply a scanty meal to the 

 i men whom we had left behind, but this was 



