16 NOTES ON THE NORTHWEST. 



varied according to the latitudes, but by the respective situa- 

 tions of bottom and upland. But the vegetation of the Mis- 

 sisippi and Missouri rivers, on the same parallel, does not 

 appear to vary much. On the east of the Missisippi the coni- 

 ferae are found in a lower latitude than to the west of it. 

 Nicollet says, in reporting the characteristics of the country, 

 in his progress up the Missouri : — 



" From the mouth of the Platte River the forests are nar- 

 rower. The principal trees are the American and red elm, 

 the soft maple, Canadian poplar, white and red ash ; the most 

 common undergrowth, horse-briar, fox and false grapes, red 

 root, grey dogwood, currant, and gooseberry, with shriibs and 

 dense rushes along the banks of the river. The same trees 

 and shrubs grow on the numerous islands that are generally 

 bordered with black and long-leaved willows. In the higher 

 situations, and at the head of creeks, we meet with the black 

 walnut and mulberry, bass-wood, nettle-wood, intermingled 

 with the common hawthorn, prickly ash, &c. On the high 

 grassy or rocky banks, the black and bur oaks constitute the 

 principal growth, but occasionally intermixed with the wild 

 cherry, red cedar, hornbeam, wild roses, and sumach. The 

 low prairies bordering the rivers have a deep fertile soil, and 

 abound with sedge-grasses and leguminous plants. Finally, 

 taking a pictorial view of the country, the verdure of its 

 hills and prairies affords a pleasing contrast with the naked 

 sand-bars in the rivers. 



" I have been thus particular in describing the vegetation of 

 this part of the country, not only as a feature in its physical 

 geography, but as a point of comparison with the more 

 northerly regions which I have yet to describe." — Nic.y p. 30. 



The most important vegetable, native to this region, on 

 account of its use as well as its abundance, is a grain called 

 wild rice, by some of the Indians, malomini, or menomoni. 



