PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 57 



lakes that arc not salt. I had no means of ascertaining the 

 density of the water of this lake ; but having caused several 

 gallons of it to be evaporated by distillation, I subsequently 

 made an analysis of the residue, wliich proved to be a mix- 

 ture of sulphates and hydrochlorates of soda and magnesia." 



The true meaning of the name is undoubtedly neither En- 

 chanted, nor Devil (as Mr. Nicollet calls it) ; but medicinal, 

 or, as we usually call it, Mineral Lake. This is evident 

 both by Mr. Nicollet's description, who says he analyzed it 

 and found it to contain soda and magnesia in sulphates, and 

 by his own translation of the same word when applied to a 

 river and a hill. In describing East Medicine River (which 

 is the English name he applies to it), he says, it derives its 

 name from a beautiful hill on its right bank, called by tlie 

 Sioux Pahah-wakan, translated by the voyageurs, " Butte de 

 Medicine," and, in English, " Medicine Hillock." The lat- 

 ter word in the name is the same in each. One in conjunc- 

 tion with mini, water ; the other with pahah, hill. The lake 

 should therefore be called Mineral Lake ; and the hill which 

 they name Mini Wakan Chante is Mineral Lake Heart. 

 The Dacota word Wakan, in the vocabulary given by Major 

 Long, is interpreted '' mysterious medicine." 



There is one feature in the scenery of this countr}^, rather 

 too partial and confined, perhaps, to be worthy of an extended 

 notice, but yet certainly too remarkable to be entirely passed 

 over. In some places the limestone stands out iiigh above 

 the surroundinir surface, isolated and naked, in the form and 

 appearance of great mural escarpments, sometimes looking 

 like an okl castle or tower. About the Tt-te des Morts, in 

 Jackson County, and near Dubu(|ue, on the Catfisii, and on 

 the Little Maquoqueta, in ihc settled portion of Iowa, are 

 some of these appearances. On iiU 1 Ionian, or Canoe River, 

 there is one very remarkable specimen of this work, in a 



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