THE MISSOURI AND PLATTE RIVERS, ETC. 
Preven a from 
Fort Pierre. 
_~ Bad river—Wakpa Shicha—is sometimes called Little Missouri, 
sometimes Teton river---wood and grass fine. 
August 9.—Road over high rolling prairie; crosses the sources 
of Antelope river and Cedar river, - east branch of Medi- 
cine river. After passing the divide of ee Bh soil 
good, with fine grass. These ites in dry s gene- 
rally contain water in holes, and have aval aoa 
and willow on their banks, ‘furnishing fuel. They are 
from 10 to a feet wide, an d their banks from 4 to 5 feet 
high. Whe n occupied with running water, bed will be 
found dade, and should be crossed carefully. From Bad 
+» river to Antelope.river, 94 miles ee - - 13% 
Thence to Cedar creek, 94 miles Z - 232 
Thence to East branch of Medicine river, 10 miles 334 
August 10.—Crossed Medicine river just below the e forks saw 
a fresh ‘track of a buffalo bull, 2 miles _ voce. S854 
About 5 Erion further on we gain the divide between Measonre 
n ite rivers—soil is now rather poor, and the ridge 
setae a some small lake bees, which have water in the : 
sprin 404 
From this a looking south, the whole horizon south 
of White river is occupied with high broken prairie ridges 
and peaks. We roeb on this high lake ridge about 4 miles, 
and descend a line of bluffs, along the foot of which are 
the sources of the side branches of White river ; thence to 
White river, 8 miles 524 
The road to-day was good —erfas rather thin, aan no wood nor 
water. 
ugust 11.—White river—Mankisita W.—High from recent 
rain, but falling. Spent the day examining zp. and down 
the stream, and forded it in the afternoon. ford isa 
fair one, with rocky bottom, but it must be carefully eXx- 
amined on " foot before crossing, and every animal should be 
led or ridden over, as the least wandering from the proper 
course may mire it inextricably. e stream is now 480 
wide, water muddy, of a white color, 1 to 3 feet deep, 
its immediate banks some 5 feet higher. e forded it 
at the highest stage of water practicable, if higher it must 
be ferried. The valley is about one mile wide, and nearly 
all overflowed i in freshets. The bluffs are 100 feet high, 
and loaded Wagons could ascend and descend without dif 
fi 
luxuriantly, and elk, deer, and antelope may be found in 
ela numbers. About 20 miles above this ford are the 
Augist 13. —Road over slightly rolling prairie. In about 2 
miles pass near Oak cre at thence 8} miles to small branch 
of Two-tail aon, 11 mil 3 
