PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 33 



his third journey, in 1700, names the St. Peter's as famiharly 

 known and acknowledged by traders. As for my part, I have 

 no hesitation in assigning its origin to a Canadian by the name 

 of De St. Pierre, who resided for a long time thereabouts. 

 Carver, in referring to the supposed fortifications which he 

 visited below Lake Pepin, mentions a Mr. De St. Pierre ; but 

 this was sixty-four years after the travels of Lesueur. How- 

 ever, waiving any further inquiry into the origin of this name, 

 it is desirable that it should not be changed, because it is an 

 important link in the history of the geographical discoveries 

 made in this region, as well as a constant point of reference 

 by travellers over it ; so that any change would throw addi- 

 tional obscurity upon the early history of the country. 



"The name which the Sioux give to the St. Peter's River is 

 Mini-sotah ; and to St. Peter's as a station, Mdote-mini- 

 sotah. The adjective sotoh is of difficult translation. The 

 Canadians translate it by a pretty equivalent French word, 

 hrouille — perhaps most properly rendered into English by 

 blear; as, for instance, mini-sotah, blear water, or the entrance 

 of the blear water. I have entered upon this explanation 

 because the word sotah really means neither clear nor turbid, 

 as some authors have asserted ; its true meaning being found 

 in the Sioux expression, ishta sotah, blear eyed. After the 

 same manner they call the Falls of St. Anthony rara, from 

 Irara, to laugh, descriptive of the imitative sound they are 

 supposed to produce. The Chippcwaj^s are more accurate ; 

 by them the Falls are called Kakahikah, or severed rock ; and 

 the St. Peter's River Ashkibogi sihi, the Green Leaf River." 

 — Nic, pp. 68, 69. 



" From actual measurements made by Mr. H. Sibley and 



myself, the width of the St. Peter's at the crossing-place, 



above its confluence, is 320 feet ; that of the Missisippi, 



below Fort Snelhng, and outside of the gorge whence it issues, 



3* 



