286 SINGULAR SALT-LAKE; [1820. 
water, near its southern extremity, during which 
we walked upon the hard surface of the salt. 
The whole resembled a large level field of deep 
snow, where a fall of rain had been succeeded by 
a sharp frost. On digging into it, at different 
parts, we found the depth of solid salt to be three 
and four inches, under which were mud and 
water, so that we were actually borne up by the 
salt, as on ice, during the winter of a northern 
climate. The whole plain of salt, in consequence 
of the bright sunshine, sparkled as if strewed with 
diamonds of the first lustre, appearing like en- 
chanted ground. Therm. 72. 
This noble work of the Creator stands solitary 
in the wilderness, seldom viewed by admiring 
eyes. Of so little value is it considered by the 
Bushmen in whose district it is, that probably 
they would sell it for a single ox ; but when the 
population shall increase, this lake may become 
more valuable than a mine of gold or silver. 
We halted at the south end of the lake, near 
the small spring, and not far from the spot where 
the combat with the large lion, mentioned before, 
took place. The spring was sufficient for the 
wants of the people, but it had nothing to spare 
for the oxen. In consequence of the number of 
lions around, the oxen were tied to the waggons 
during the night, and men appointed to watch. 
