Rocky Mountains. 361 



a great distance from the Gulf of Mexico, and frequent the 

 regions adjacent to the Rocky Mountains. 



In regard to this extensive section of country, we do not 

 hesitate in giving the opinion, that it is almost wholly unfit 

 for cultivation, and of course uninhabitable by a people de- 

 pending upon agriculture for their subsistence. Although 

 tracts of fertile land, considerably extensive, are occasionally 

 to be met with, yet the scarcity of wood and water, almost 

 uniformly p evalent, will prove an insuperable obstacle in the 

 way of settling the Cijuntry. This objection rests not only 

 against the immediate section under consideration, but ap- 

 plies with equal propriety to a much larger portion of the 

 country. Agreeably to the best intelligence that can be had, 

 concerning the country both northward and southward of the 

 section, and especially to the inferences deducible from the 

 accuunt given by Lewis and Clark, of the country situated 

 between the Missouri and the Rocky Mountains, above the 

 river Platte, the vast region commencing near the sources of 

 the Sabine, Trinity, Brasis, and Colorado, and extending 

 northwardly to the forty-ninth degree of north latitude, by 

 which the United States territory is limited in that direction, 

 is throughout, of a similar character. The whole of this re- 

 gion seems peculiarly adapted as a range for buffaloes, wild 

 goats, and other wild game, incalculable multitudes of which, 

 find ample pasturage and subsistence upon it. 



This region, however, viewed as a frontier, may prove of 

 infinite importance tt the United States, inasmuch as it is 

 calculated to serve as a barrier to prevent too great an ex- 

 tension of our population westward, and secure us against 

 the machinations or incursions of an enemy, that might other- 

 wise be disposed to annoy us in that quarter. 



The Indians of the section last described, whose numbers 

 are very limited, compared with the extent of country they 

 inhabit, will be considered in the sequel of this report. 



VI. — Of the Rocky Mountains^ 

 This range of mountains has been distinguished by a va- 

 riety of appellations, amongst which the following are the 

 most common, viz. Rocky, Shining, Mexican, Chippewyan, 

 Andes, &c. The general course of the range is about N. N. 

 W. or S. S. E. Its breadth varies from fifty to one hundred 

 miles. They rise abruptly out of the plains which lie ex- 

 tended at their base on the east side, towering into peaks of 

 great height, which renders them visible at the distance of 

 VOL. II. 46 



