54 NOTES ON THE NORTHWEST. 



portancc to the country through wliich it flows. Its Indian 

 name means tliat it is continuously lined with wood. Its 

 sources are at the 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. Its length cannot be less than 350 miles ; in 

 which distance there are two principal bends — the more 

 southerly and smaller being terminated by a fall, said to be the 

 only obstacle to its entire navigation. From this circumstance, 

 the upper part of the river bears another name : the Sioux calling 

 it Watpaipakshan, or Crooked River, and the French, la riviere 

 Croche. It flows tlirough a beautiful and fertile country ; 

 amidst which, the Ndakotahs, inhabiting the valley of the 

 St. Peter's and Missouri, have always kept up summer es- 

 tablishments on the borders of the adjoining lakes, whilst they 

 hunted the river banks. Bufl'alo herds are confidently ex- 

 pected to be met with here at all seasons of the year. 



*' Wassecha, or Vermillion River. — This river is scarce- 

 ly more than sixty miles long. It issues from two lakes, 

 which the Frenchmen have named Lacs aux Bois leger — 

 Light-wood Lakes. Near its entrance into the Missouri, it 

 forks, owing to a remarkable promontory that juts out of the 

 prairie, and to which are attached many romantic traditions 

 that I have not time to recount. The river is not well wood- 

 ed ; it is navigable by canoes a portion of its length ; and is 

 the last that empties into the Missouri among those flowing 

 from the western side of the Coteau des Prairies. At its 

 mouth is the upper end of an entensive prairie, about fifty 

 miles long, between the Tchankasndata and the Missouri 

 Rivers ;* having some analogy in its general appearance with 



* " This is the bottom designated by Lewis and Clark as the Buffalo 

 prairie, in consequence of the great number of these animals that they 

 eaw there. Pierre Chouteau & Co., of St. Louis, keep generally a trading- 

 post upon it." 



