PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 47 



Yellow Creek, a tributary of the latter, the scenery is un- 

 commonly fine. 



The MoiNGONAN, commonly called Des Moines, is the 

 most important stream tributary to the Missisippi on its west- 

 ern bank, above the Missouri. This stream, it is said by 

 Nicollet, is called Inyan Shasha by the Sioux, and Moingo- 

 nan by the Algonquins. A river, which appears to be this, 

 entering the Missisippi on the west, is called by Hennepin 

 and Lahontan Otenta. It is called Moingona by Charlevoix, 

 Des Moines (Monks' River) by Lewis and Clarke. Pike 

 makes no mention of the river, but calls the rapids immedi- 

 ately above, on the Missisippi, De Moyen ; on the map ac- 

 com.panying his volume, they are both marked with the name 

 Des Moines. It is called by Collot, Moins (Less) River. 

 The Shetek Lakes, the fountain of the Moingona, are on a 

 ridge of land from which springs the source of Red Wood 

 River, a branch of St. Peter's. It is a region of lakes and 

 wet prairie for more than a degree of latitude south of the 

 ridge. The Sunkaku, or Brother, is the highest principal 

 branch on the left. The Lizard enters a short distance be- 

 low, on the right. Some forty miles below, another princi- 

 pal branch enters on the left. The Racoon fork, after a 

 longer interval from the last, enters on the right. This 

 branch is about 200 miles from the mouth of the river, and 

 a large distance above as well as most of that below, to the 

 mouth, is navigable, being interrupted at several points at 

 present, but susceptible, by very moderate improvements, of 

 uninterrupted navigation for about 300 miles. The bed of 

 this river is for the most part rock, in which it differs from 

 the streams generally in this region, which, with some excep- 

 tions, are sandy. In the spring floods, this stream may be 

 navigated for two or three months as high as the Racoon by 



