27 [ 237 J 



ness of the passes between the reefs, which oblige boats to cross the cur- 

 rent in an oblique direction, running the risk of being dashed against the 

 rocks. As a matter of course, the descending boats, being swept along by 

 the current, run the greatest risk. But Captain Lee has shown that it is 

 practicable to remove these obstacles. So as to afford a safe passage up and 

 down both of the rapids. 



The general government is certainly interested in hastening these pro- 

 jected improvements ; having annually considerable supplies to send to the 

 already established military posts of Prairie du Chien, the St. Peter's, and 

 others that will probably soon be required ; as well as to facilitate future 

 transactions with the Indians, which the onward marchof events so plainly 

 indicates must, of necessity, take place before long. 



But here, again, as 1 have been anticipated by Dr. Owen, I must return 

 to the Coteau des Prairies. 



1 have already stated, I think, that the lower portion of the Coteau des 

 Southwest Pi'ftiriss forms two spurs ; one of which turns off the rivers that 

 side of the have been precedingly described into the Mississippi, the other 

 Coteau des juto the Missouri. The divisional line of these two spurs is 

 rairie.-. plainly indicated by the course of the Des Moines from 43° 30' of 

 north latitude ; and the one now referred to is a prominent ridge, separating 

 the waters that empty into the Des Moines from those that flow westwardly 

 into the Missouri. But, as it falls off in a very gradual slope when it has 

 reached already 42*^ of latitude, the head-waters then take first an E. and 

 afterwards a SSE. direction, and are divided from each other only by mod- 

 erate swells or undulations of the country, that cause them to ramify into 

 a fain of streams, carrying their waters, after long ramblings, easterly to 

 the Mississippi, and southerly to the Missouri, until they finally unite. 



To the north and west oi Nadoway^ or Snake river — meaning a particu- 

 lar species of snake — several important streams take their rise on that side 

 of the Coteau des Prairies 1 am now considering, to empty themselves, of 

 course, finally, into the Missouri. I shall now give an account of those 

 which appear to be least generally known. 



The name of this river implies that there is a rock somewhere along its 

 Inyan-yanke course.* It has been heretofore designated as the Little Sioux 

 rivpr.orLii- river, and has its origin from a group of lakes, the most import- 

 tie Sioux. ant 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. 



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

 Tchan-kasn- portance to the country through which it flows. Its Indian 

 data river, or name means that it is continuously lined with wood. Its 

 Sioux river, sources are at tlie head of the Coteau des Prairies, not more 

 than a mile from those of the St, Peter's, and separated only by a low ridge, 



* Inyan-yanke river is said to be navigable for canoes. As I saw but the two extremities of 

 this river, and having obtained no reliable information concerning its intermediary courses, I 

 do not insist on iis accurate represcniaiion on my map. I may most probably have placed it 

 too high up one of its tributaries— the Olcheyedan—a name derivedfrom a small hill, the literal 

 meaning of which is " the spot where they cry ;" alluding to the custom of the Indians to re- 

 pair to elevated situations to weep over their dead relations. 



