68 
beautifully silicified stumps of trees in position, and immedi- 
ately above these the great black line or chief lignite bed, 
probably about two feet thick and still higher, painted forma- 
tions, of unascertained character. In places marine shells 
were found, in which of the beds cannot now be stated, but 
probably in the higher, above the “ Black Line.” In many 
places of varying position, painted masses sometimes resem- 
bling dykes, and composed of fragments of the surrounding 
rocks, cemented with ferruginous matter, and haying the 
taste of sulphates, were found. Most of the little water- 
courses tributary to the Little Missouri are dry, with here and 
there a puddle of clear but dark brown water, tasting of sul- 
phates and humus substance. Even the running water of the 
Little Missouri is straw or wine-colored, with a strong inky 
flavor. The beds of all the streams are covered with frag- 
ments of surrounding formations. Among the fragments 
were noticed a great number of pieces of agates, chalcedonies, 
wood-opal, silicified wood, and other silicious rocks; also red 
pipe or clay-stones, and geolithic minerals. It should be 
added, that the formations of the Little Missouri, of the Yel- 
lowstone, and of the Missouri Valley between Fort Union 
and Fort Rice are identical, the developments on the two 
latter streams being however not so bold or extensive as on 
the Little Missouri. 
The plateau to the east of the Missouri River rises gradu- 
ally towards the Mini-Wakan or Devil’s Lake, where it attains 
its greatest elevations in the summit of Chantee Hill on the 
immediate south-eastern shore of the lake, and in the Dog 
House Butte, situated south-west or west of the lake and pro- 
bably 60 to 70 miles distant. The Big Chyenne River (there 
are several streams of this name in the West) a small running. 
brook, whose source lies probably near the Dog House Butte, 
encircles the lake on the South about 20 miles away, flowing 
in an easterly direction towards the Red River of the North, 
to which it is tributary, and to the north-west about 70 or 80 
miles distant, the Mouse River, a small bright stream enters 
the United States from the North, describes a short curve, 
and again crosses the boundary line on its way to its conflu- 
