WATERS OF NEBRASKA. 61 



breadth and volume all the way from its source to its exit from the 

 State, in Nuckalls County. It is forded in many places, and the 

 only clanger is from quicksands. There is little danger with a 

 team that does not balk in the water. It is already bridged in va- 

 rious places. As was stated in the discussion of the Platte River, 

 the Republican receives by subterranean drainage a portion of the 

 waters of the former. 



The Niobrara River, from its source, in Wyoming, to its mouth, 

 is 460 miles long. Its source, in Wyoming, is 5,100 feet above the 

 sea level. At the State line it is about ten feet wide, and of beau- 

 tiful, clear, running water. Its elevation here above the sea level 

 approximates closely to 4,594 feet. It continues to be clear 

 and sparkling, but widening to about fifteen feet down to longi- 

 tude 103 15'. From this point it widens rapidly until, in longitude 

 102 30', it is from sixty to eighty yards wide. Here it enters a 

 canyon whose walls are high and steep. This canyon region con- 

 tinues down to longitude 99 20', or about 180 miles. After its 

 emergence from the canyon it is still a broad, rapid, sandy river to 

 its mouth. Owing to its rapidity and quicksands, it is exceedingly 

 difficult to ford in the lower part of its course. At least, this was 

 my own experience. After sticking fast in the quicksands a few 

 times, and being compelled to take a wagon apart and carry every- 

 thing to shore, the river loses all romance for the explorer. In the 

 lower part of its course there are many low islands, mostly cov- 

 ered with timber. It flows into the Missouri in range 6, west, and 

 32, north. 



There are numerous tributaries of the Niobrara, most of which 

 are of small size. On the south side, the first of importance is the 

 Verdigris. This beautiful stream, which rises in Antelope County 

 and flows north through the west end of Knox County, flows into 

 the Niobrara six miles from its mouth. Between this and the 

 mouth of the Keya Paha, on the south side, there are a great num- 

 ber of small tributaries. From the mouth of the Keya Paha to 

 the Wazihonska there are also a great number of small tributaries, 

 and the most of these are remarkable for the great number of fine 

 springs of water which feed them, and for the groves of pine and 

 oak on their narrow bottoms and on their bluffs. The word 

 Wazihonska signifies, in the Dakota language, " the place where 

 the pine extends far out." This stream is about forty-five miles 

 long, and its valley, though much narrower, closely resembles that 



