156 Feathastonhaugh's Geological Report. 



another small ridge occurs, with a stream separating it from 

 Minnay Shoshoh-chhray,* the "high hill of the muddy river," 

 which the voyageurs going up the Missouri, have called Coteau 

 de Missouri, having it on the right. The distance from Lake 

 Travers to the Missouri, across this part of the country, is 

 equal to seven days' march, and the Mandan village, in 47 

 30', can be reached in the same time. 



Finding the whole country buried up in sand and clay, no 

 rock in place of any kind, and constantly admonished by the 

 approach of the winter, I determined to return by the south 

 side of Minday Eatatenka, or Big-stone lake. Descending 

 the Coteau, I had a weary march across the burnt prairies, 

 and with nothing to attract attention but the extreme beauty of 

 the mirage and the distant tops of a few trees, I reached 

 Eatatenka, an extremely beautiful piece of water. Where I 

 struck the lake it was impossible to get to the water's edge, on 

 account of the great breadth of the swampy ground, covered 

 with rushes eight feet high. From the high land there was 

 a fine view of the lake, curving for a great distance, with occa- 

 sional bluffs two hundred feet high. Near its banks the land 

 is of the finest quality, but is sometimes intersected by cou- 

 lees. I went down one of them towards the lake, and found 

 it terminate in about one hundred and fifty acres of very rich 

 land, forming a singular wilderness of trees and briers, with a 

 stream of fine water flowing through it. The remains of a 

 large Indian village were there, and on rising the east bank of 

 the coulee there was a mound which overlooked the country. 

 Towards the southeast termination there is a fine low dry 

 prairie, and a good beach, which enabled me to get some 

 unios and anodontas. Below this are some large islands, with 

 Indian villages. The lake, which is generally very well 



* It is extremely probable that this is the origin of the word Missouri* The 

 first time I heard a Nacotah pronounce Minnay Shoshoh-chhruy, slurred rapidly 

 together, as is their way, it produced just such a sound as an illiterate voyageur 

 would convey by Mishouray. 



