NAVIGABILITY OF THE MISSOURI. 241 
neck of land, with directions to rejoin us when we should reach the opposite side. They col- 
lected some interesting fossils, and reported that the distance across was about two and a half 
miles; the distance around the bend was about twenty-five miles. 
On the 18th, having passed Fort George, a trading post on the right bank, and an island, on 
which was a farm belonging to Chouteau & Co., we came in sight of Fort Pierre at 6 p.m. 
In approaching the post we took the channel to the west of an island, but found it impossible to 
pass a sand-bar near its head. Retracing our course, we ascended by the eastern channel, and 
when within about three miles of the fort a terrific storm compelled us to halt. We reached 
Fort Pierre at 7 a. m. on the 19th, and remained there until the morning of the 21st. 
The Missouri, from the mouth of the Platte to Fort Pierre, varies in width from four hundred 
to one thousand yards. ‘Bon Homme” island, which we passed on the 12th, seems to be 
somewhat exempt from sudden changes, being nearly as I should suppose it was when described 
by Lewis and Clark. 
I noticed eight rapids between the mouth of the Platte and Sergeant’s hill, and thirteen between 
the last-mentioned point and the mouth of the Poplar. A chain of rocks extends across the river 
at a locality called the ‘* Three Islands,” and another at the foot of the ‘‘ Great Bend.” 
On the 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, and 18th, the boat was delayed by storms. She could not 
proceed with a strong side or head wind, but of course was aided in her progress by a wind from 
the rear. 
On the 13th, 16th, 17th, and 18th, it was found very difficult to procure a sufficiency of fuel. 
Log houses, the remains of abandoned trading posts, were cut to pieces whenever met with, and 
furnished good, dry wood. Cedar was also much sought after; but neither kind of fuel was to 
be obtained in abundance. 
The banks of the Missouri might be almost continuously settled as far up as the mouth of the 
L’eau qui Court. Above that point, I think about twenty-five per cent. of them possess that ad- 
vantage. The land for some miles below Fort Pierre appeared to be more rich than that for 
some distance below the ‘Great Bend.” In ascending from the mouth of the Platte to that 
point, the valley of the Missouri gradually becomes less fertile. 
From the mouth of the Big Sioux to that of the White Earth the Missouri separates the Ter- 
ritory of Minnesota from the Indian territory. There is a road from Fort Pierre to Fort Laramie, 
which is about three hundred and thirty miles long. 
The next and last portion of the river to be considered is that which is included between Fort 
Pierre and the mouth of the Poplar. 
From the last-mentioned point to Fort Union the Missouri pursues a direction a little south of 
east, and thence to the mouth of White Earth, a little north of east. 
The latitudes of these three points are respectively about 48° 05’ 48”, and 48° 07/30”. Without 
all my notes 1 am unable to state precisely at what point the Missouri attains its highest north 
latitude, but I think it is near the mouth of the Great Muddy. 
From the mouth of the White Earth to Fort Clark, the direction of the Missouri is southeast, 
and thence to Fort Pierre it is south. The length of this section is about 715 miles. 
Above Fort Union the river varies in width from one hundred and fifty to three hundred 
yards; at that point it has been found, by pacing on the ice in winter, to be three hundred paces 
wide; and from Fort Union to Fort Pierre it varies in width from three hundred paces to eight 
hundred yards. I would remark that my statements of the general width of the river are merely 
estimates, as I had very few opportunities to make measurements. 
Not far north of Fort Pierre a second “great bend” occurs, of which the distance across is 
about eight miles; that around about twenty-five miles; its apex is towards the west. A third 
‘“‘oreat bend” is found not far north of Fort Berthold, of which the distance across is about 
twelve miles; that around about forty miles, and having its apex towards the southwest. These 
are distinct from that general change of direction in which the Missouri, after flowing from the 
31f 
