282 Expedition to the 



Is it not probable that a large portion of the water falling 

 in rains upon the extensive plains at the eastern side of the 

 Rocky Mountains may sink through the loose and porous 

 soil, till at length meeting with some compact stratum, it 

 may be collected into riils, and even considerable streams, 

 which, descending through subterranean channels in the 

 direction of the general inclination of the country, at length 

 meet with the nucleus of the Ozark Mountains, traversing 

 the secondary strata, like a mineral dyke, and are consequent- 

 ly made to appear in the form of large springs? Whether 

 any cause of this kind operates to supply the unusual profu- 

 sion of water, with which this hilly tract is irrigated,must 

 be for others to decide. The fact is an established one. 



Black river originates in an elevated part of the Ozark 

 Mountains, between 37° and 38° north latitude, and between 

 90° and Si ° west longitude. From the same tract descend, 

 on the north, the waters of the Merameg, on the northeast 

 those of Big river, on the east, and south, those of the St. 

 Francis and Black rivers, and on the west those of the Osage 

 and the Gasconade. By an examination of the map which 

 accompanies this work it will be seen that the direction of 

 the water courses clearly indicates the existence of an eleva- 

 ted ridge, running from the confluence of the Missouri and 

 Mississippi, on the northeast to the junction of the Arkansa, 

 and the Canadian on the southwest. On the north-western 

 side of this ridge, we observe the Osage, the Grand river, 

 the Verdigris, and even the Arkansa, inflected from that due 

 eastern course which the tributaries of the Mississippi and 

 Missouri, on the west, incline to pursue; and coming near 

 its base we find the Illinois river of the Arkansa, and the 

 Yungar fork of Osage, running in opposite directions, and 

 nearly at right angles, to the general course of the Canadian, 

 the Arkansa, the Main Osage, and the Konzas. The Illi- 

 nois, and the great eastern tributary of the Osage receive 

 numerous streams from the westem slope of the Ozark 



