138 Featherstonhaiigh^s Geological Report. 



it bends and describes nearly a northwest course to its source. 

 Numerous chiefs of bands of the Nacotahs* have their villages 

 on its banks, where they reside during the season of cultivation ; 

 and which are evacuated by them and their families during the 

 hunting seasons. About six miles from the fort, on the right 

 bank, is the village of Wahmundeetanka, or Big Eagle, called 

 also by the Canadian traders Chien Noir, or Black Dog. 

 A little higher up on the same bank is the village of Peni- 

 chon. About sixteen miles from the fort a stream comes in 

 from the right bank called by the Canadians Credit river, the 

 Indians call it Kakahinhahah, or River where the elk was 

 put, to commemorate, no doubt, some incident. A little be- 

 yond this the river narrows to about eighty yards, and has a 

 N. N. W. course, but soon widens again with high grassy 

 slopes of prairie land. About twenty-five miles from the fort 

 the village of a chief called Six, is passed on the right bank. 

 Passing a place on the left bank called La Petite Prairie, a 

 stream comes in from the same side, which, from the distance 

 from the fort, about forty miles, and other circumstances, 

 appears to be the river which Carverf gave his own name to. 

 The Indians call it Do-do-do-ah, or Who sings of war. 

 Something short of fifty miles from the fort, there is a short 

 rapid with a strong current : the passage is on the right bank 

 which we soon got through by holding on to the bushes and 

 vigorously applying the paddles. Above this is another rapid 

 with sandstone in place on the right bank, the same as that at 

 the fort. Further up, at a place called Weahkotee, or the 

 Sand hills, there is another Indian village. Beyond this, for 

 a great distance, the course of the river is very beautiful : a 

 great profusion of trees, shrubbery, and high grass on the bot- 



*In Major Long's expedition to the source of the St. Peter's river, these Indians 

 are uniformly called Dacotahs. I made particular inquiries amongst the chiefs, 

 through my interpreter, and they all concurred in the assertion that their proper 

 name was Nacotah. This word means a united or allied people. Dacotah 

 means " my relations." 



t Carver's Travels, page 74. 



