84 NARRATIVE OF 1853. 
which rise the waters of Red river and Jacques or James river, a branch of the Missouri. 
Southwest of this the second terrace or cóteau bordering the valley of the Missouri rises much 
higher, broken and irregular in outline and again full of small stagnant ponds, many of which 
are salt. 
The route selected here approaches that of the main train, crossing James river fifty miles 
further down, where there is a little wood on its banks. But from here to Mouse river Lieu- 
tenant Grover found, for one hundred and eighty miles, not a particle of any kind. 
Lake Jessie and others along this route are salt, some only slightly brackish, and the theory 
for their saline qualities is found in the fact that they never are washed out, and retain the 
salt deposits and incrustations. Sometimes two lakes, hardly twenty yards apart, differ entirely, 
one being so saline that the water is offensive, the other excellent, having a free and constant 
outlet. | 
The Butte de Morale is à prominent landmark, rising two hundred and —— feet 
above the Shyenne river, near its source. Not far west of this the camp of July eighteenth 
was beautifully located on a range of hills nearly surrounded by salt lakes, though an excellent 
spring near by furnished an abundant supply of cold fresh water. Here wood was found for 
the first time after leaving Lake Jessie, ninety miles back. Near Mouse river salt marshes 
were passed, and in some places deposits of salt a quarter of an inch thick were observed. 
The configuration of Mouse River valley, as well as of its tributaries, resembles that of the 
Shyenne.—(Seesketch.) High ridges divide the plateau bordering the stream from that extending 
into the prairie, with coulées intersecting it and opening into the river on the one side, gradually 
growing imperceptible as they make into the prairie on the other. The general course of the . 
river, and of its principal branch, the Riviere des Lacs, is nearly parallel to that of the 
Missouri, for the distance we followed it, of eighty-seven and a half miles to its source, and 
separated from that river by the Plateau du Missouri, varying from thirty-five to fifty-five 
miles in width. Many of the coulées reach to the edge of the Missouri plateau ; and in 
the examination for a good.passage for the wagon train, secluded spots were found where 
beetling crag and winding stream, venerable trees and greenest sward combined in scenes of 
much picturesque beauty. 
Its valley is from half a mile to a mile wide, about two hundred feet below the prairie level, 
and is well wooded with maple, oak, ash, and elm. The deep coulées run back from it for 
fifteen or twenty miles, and must be avoided by keeping far from the river itself, "They usually 
contain a stream of good water, and sufficient timber on the banks for camping purposes. One 
of the bluffs of the cóteau, twenty miles from Mouse river, was found by Mr. Moffett to be 
seven hundred and two feet above its level, and a hill seven miles from camp rose to two 
hundred and fifty-six feet. 
The distance from Mouse river to Fort Union, as travelled, was 1181 miles. The route 
crosses the Grand Cóteau, a collection of high, strong, and barren knolls, with great numbers of 
small ponds lodged between the hills. Scarcely any wood is to be found, except a little on 
White Earth river and its branches; but as water and grass are usually plentiful, this ridge 
will become a good grazing country. The general elevation is between 2,000 and 2,500 feet, 
and it descends again at the Missouri (Fort Union) to 2,019 feet. 
In ascending along the Riviere des Lacs the côteau appears to decrease in оша until 
