13B TRAVELS IN 
it formed a cruft feparated from the foil, and 
might not only have concealed innumerable fa* 
milies of little animals, but would have allowed 
them to proceed feveral leagues, in all di- 
redions, between the two ftrata. 
The greater part of my oxen, and thofe 
particularly that were heavily loaded, funk half 
a foot deep at every ftep ; and thefe continual 
falls tormented and rendered them almoft fu- 
rious. We ourfelves were not exempted from 
the fame accidents. In a moment when we 
leaft expedted it, the ground would give way 
under us ; and it may be readily conceived 
how much we muft be fatigued and put out of 
patience by fo incommodious a march. 
To this another inconvenience, flill more 
infupportable and difcouraging, was added. I 
mean that of the faline cryftallization, which, 
as it lay every where difperfed, and was flruck 
upon by the fervid rays of the fun, fcorched 
us by its burning reverberation, at the fame 
time that its refiediion dazzled \w. The light 
duft by which it, was covered, and which 
formed a part of it, was raifed around us by 
the fmalleft breath of wind : we ourfelves 
alfo, by the motion neceffary in walking, ex- 
cited 
