Rockij Mountains. 87 



covering nearly its whole surface, and greatly endangering 

 the safety, and impeding the progress of such boats as are 



ascending. The group above mentioned is called the Thou- 

 sand Islands. 



Nashville, Smithton, Rectorsville, and numerous other 

 towns of similar character and name, containing from one 

 to half a dozen houses each, are to be met with in a few 

 miles above the Little Manito rocks. Almost every settler, 

 who has established himself on the Missouri, is confidently- 

 expecting that his farm is, in a few years, to become the 

 seat of wealth and business, and the mart for an extensive 

 district. 



The banks of the Missouri, in this part, present an alter- 

 nation of low alluvial bottoms and rocky cliffs. Roche a 

 Pierce creek is a small stream entering nearly opposite 

 another, called Splice creek, a few miles above the Manito 

 rocks. Here is a range of rocky cliffs, penetrated by numer- 

 ous cavities and fissures, hence called by the French boat- 

 men, Roche a Pierce, and giving name to the creek. These 

 rocks we found filled with organic remains, chiefly encrinites. 

 About eight or ten miles above this point the Missouri again 

 washes the base of the rocky hills, which bound its imme- 

 diate valley. The rocks advance boldly to the brink of the 

 river, exhibiting a perpendicular front, variegated with seve- 

 ral colours arranged in broad stripes. Here is a fine spring 

 of water gushing out at the base of the precipice j over it 

 are several rude paintings executed by the Indians. These 

 cliffs are called the Big Manito rocks, and appear to have 

 been objects of peculiar veneration with the aborigines, and 

 have accordingly received the name of their Great Spirit. 



It is not to be understood that the general surface of the 

 country, of which we are now speaking, is traversed by con- 

 tinuous ridges, which, in their course across the valley of the 

 Missouri, occasion the alternation of hill and plain, which, 

 to a person ascending the river, forms the most conspicuous 



