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Under the 44th degree of latitude, the breadth of the Coteau is about 40 

 miles, and its mean elevation is here reduced to 1,450 feet above the sea. 

 Within this space its two slopes are rather abrupt, crowned with verdure, 

 and scolloped by deep ravines thickly shaded with bushes, forming the beds 

 of rivulets that water the subjacent plains. 



The Coteau itself is isolated, in the midst of boundless and fertile prai- 

 ries, extending to the wesf, to the north, and into the valley of the St. 

 Peter's. 



The plain at its northern extremity is a most beautiful tract of land, 

 diversified by hills, dales, woodland, and lakes; the latter abounding in 

 fish. This region of country is probably the most elevated between the 

 Gulf of Mexico and Hudson's bay. From its summit, proceeding from its 

 western to its eastern limits, grand views are afforded. At its eastern bor- 

 der particularly, the prospect is magnificent beyond description, extending 

 over the immense green turf that forms the basm of the Red river of the 

 North, the forest-capped summits of the hauteurs des tcrres that surround 

 the sources of the Mississippi, the granitic valley of the Upper St. Peter's, 

 and the depressions in which are lake Travers and the Big Stone lake. 

 There can be no doubt that in future times this region will be the summer 

 resort of the wealthy of the land. 



In attempting a faint description of this beautiful country, my thoughts 

 and feelings are painfully brought back to it. * Let me be permitted, as a re- 

 lief, to transcribe, in connexion with it, a trifling incident. 



1 owned a white horse, of excellent temper and service — my companion 

 during the whole of my campaign of 1839, and until 1 reached the upper 

 part of the Coteau des Prairies. Having detailed my assistant (Lieutenant 

 Fremont) to explore one series of lakes, whilst I proceeded to the explora- 

 tion of another, I loaned my horse to one of my worthy guides (Louisoii 

 Freniere) who was to accompany Mr. Fremont. This short expedition 

 proved very trying both to men and horses ; so that mine sickened, and had 

 to be abandoned. The next day Freniere went to see the animal. He 

 found him where he had left him, but unable to move. He was compelled 

 to leave him ; but, before taking this determination, my half-breed guide 

 took a paper of vermillion, with which he painted the head and other parts 

 of the animal, in recommendation to the genii loci, as well as to any Indian 

 that might chance to discover him. 



The other portions of the Coteau, ascending from the lower latitudes, 

 present pretty much the same characters. This difference, however, is re- 

 markable : that the woodlands become scarcer, whilst the open prairies in- 

 crease in extent. It is very rarely only that groves are met with, to which 

 the Ndakotahs, or Sioux, have given the name of Tchaji Witah, or Wood 

 islands. When these groves are surrounded by weiter, they assume some 

 resemblance to oases ; and hence I have assigned this name to some of 

 them on my map. 



These oases, possessed of a good soil, well wooded, offering an abund- 

 ance of game, and waters teeming with fish, offer inducements for perma- 

 nent settlements. In this region tliere are frequent instances of a marsh, or 

 lake, furnishing waters to different hydrographical basins — a fact observed 

 by the Sioux, and which they express, in the compound word of their dia- 

 lect, ?}iini akipan kaduza ; from mini, water ; akij)an, division, share ; and 

 kaduza, to fiow, to run out. 



