PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 63 



take first an E. and afterwards a SSE. direction, and are 

 divided from each other only by moderate swells or undula- 

 tions of the country, that cause them to ramify into a rain of 

 streams, carrying tlicir waters, after long ramblings, easterly 

 to the Missisippi, and southerly to the Missouri, until they 

 finally unite. 



'* To the north and west of Nodaway, or Snake River — 

 meaning a particular species of snake — several important 

 streams take their rise on that side of the Coteau des Prairies 

 I am now considering, to empty themselves, of course, finally 

 into the Missouri. I shall nuw give an account of those 

 which appear to be least generally known. 



"Inyanyanke River, or Little Sioux. — The name of this 

 river implies that there is a rock somewdiere along its course.* 

 It has been heretofore designated as the Little Sioux River, 

 and has its origin from a group of lakes, the most important 

 of which is called by the Sioux Miniwakan, or Spirit Water; 

 hence its name of Spirit Lake. This lake has a triangular 

 form ; being about seven miles wide at its largest extremity, 

 and seven miles in length. It is not remarkably well wooded; 

 the smaller lakes to the north of it being better supplied in 

 this respect. 



" Tchankasndata River, or Sioux River. — This is the 

 Big, or simply the Sioux River, and is one of the most im- 



* " Inyanyanke River is said to be navigable for canoes. As I saw but 

 the two extremities of this river, and having obtained no reliable informa- 

 tion concerning its intermediary courses, I do not insist on its accurate 

 representation on my map. I may most probably have placed it too high 

 up one of its tributaries — the Otcheyedan — a name derived from a small 

 hill, the literal meaning of which is ' the spot where they cry,' alluding 

 to the custom of the Indians to repair to elevated situations to weep over 

 Iheir dead relations." 



