_Comment by Ed._ Miguel Venegas, a native of Mexico, was born in 1680, joined the Jesuit order in 1700, and after several years' service as professor of Latin, rhetoric, and theology, went out as a missionary to the Indians. His chief work was, _Noticia de la California y su Conquista temporal y espiritual hasta el tiempo presente_ (Madrid, 3 vols., 1757). Its importance as a contemporary account of the native tribes and mission stations of California is attested by the fact that translations were promptly made into English, French, and Dutch. The English edition is entitled _Natural and Civil History of California_ (London, 2 vols., 1759). [045] For historical importance of the Wabash River and origin of the name, see Croghan's _Journals_, in our volume i, note 107; for sketch of the site of Shawneetown, see _ibid._, note 108.--ED. [046] Testudo geographica of Leseuer.--JAMES. [047] Usually called Cave-in-Rock. For additional facts relative to its history, see Cuming's _Tour_, in our volume iv, note 180.--ED. [048] _Nitrate of Potash._--This salt occurs in most of the caves in the western states and territories. It is found in efflorescences and incrustations frequently combined with nitrate of lime. Its colour is grayish or yellowish white. The manufacture of nitre, in the numerous caves in Kentucky, is conducted as follows: The earths containing the nitrates of lime and potash are lixiviated; the lixivium is afterwards passed through the ashes of wood, by the alkali of which the nitrate of lime is decomposed. If the earths, after having been lixiviated, are replaced in the caves, they again become impregnated with the same salts. One bushel of earth commonly yields from one to four pounds of nitre. The process by which nature supplies the consumption of this important article has not yet been discovered. _Muriate of Soda._--In the United States, common salt has been usually found in solution combined with the sulphates of lime, magnesia, and soda, and with sulphuretted hydrogen gas. The springs yielding the greatest quantity of salt, are those of the Kenhawa, and Little Sandy rivers, the United States' Salines near Shawaneetown, Illinois, Boon's Saline, near Franklin, Missouri, and Lockhart's on the Le Mine river.