PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 55 



the American bottom of the State of IlHiiois, opposite St. 

 Louis. Belonging to this is a beautiful grove, on a point of 

 land called by the French ' Pointe-au-Cerf ' (Stag Point). 

 The Sioux name for the prairie is Huppanokutey ; or, by 

 contraction, Huppankutey ; meaning, where they hit at the 

 elk. 



" We reach now a country differing essentially from that 

 previously described, both in respect to its climate and soil, 

 and, consequently, in its natural productions. Whatever it 

 may lose, however, in estimation of the agriculturist, is fully 

 compensated to the geologist, who discovers within it the 

 beginning of the great cretaceous formation that underlies the 

 hydrographical basin of the Upper Missouri." 



The lakes of this country could not even be named, for 

 their multitude. A brief description of each of them would 

 make a large volume. They exceed in number five or six 

 hundred. A description of one of the largest, and remarka- 

 ble also for the qualities of its water, called Mini-wakan, is 

 subjoined from the report of Nicollet, frequently quoted 

 before. It is nearly in the northwest portion of the valley. 

 A body of water, called by the French, Mille Lacs (the 

 Thousand Lakes), is about fifteen miles in diameter, nearly 

 round, situated east of and near to the Missisippi. 



" The appearance of Mini Wakan Lake did not realize the 

 anticipations we had been led to form of it from popu- 

 lar account. The lake is on the plateau of the Shayen-oju, 

 and is surrounded by swells and hills, varying in height from 

 twenty to 250 feet, that so project into it as not to permit its 

 whole expanse to be seen but from one spot, which I shall 

 presently describe. 



" The prominent hill-top, previously alluded to by the 

 name of Miniwakan-chante, is the only beacon to the travel- 

 ler leading to the lake ; but even from its summits no idea 



