214 The Little Missouri “ Bad Lands.” [ April, 
we have the abundant stratigraphical proof afforded by this whole 
region, and the further testimony of trustworthy eye-witnesses, 
who have seen the beds of ligniteon fire with the same phenomena 
resulting as those above described. 
The effect of this metamorphic action, when we consider its ` 
cause, upon the general topographical and geological features of 
the region under consideration, is wonderful almost beyond con- 
ception. Wherever the country is deeply scored by ravines usu- 
ally several of these red bands of metamorphosed shales occur, 
separated by fifty to one hundred and fifty or more feet of un- 
altered clays and sands, and, running horizontally and parallel to 
each other, are seen for many miles, passing at the same eleva- 
tion through butte after butte and ridge after ridge. The high- 
est points are invariably capped with this hardened material, and 
hence all rise to about the same level over an area of many square 
miles. Generally there are several sets of these elevations, dif- 
fering only in size and height, the hardened bands that cap the 
smaller and lower appearing at the same elevation in the sides of 
the larger and higher, which are capped with portions of higher 
beds that have nearly disappeared. The indurated beds thus in 
a great measure determine the height and form of these remnants 
of strata which once filled the valleys to a height considerably 
above the tops of the highest points now left, and serve as a great 
check upon the surprisingly rapid erosion now going on, and 
which is every year removing vast quantities of the easily yield- 
ing strata. 
The extent of the influence of this igneous action upon the 
general aspect and character of the country is perhaps most im- 
pressively seen from elevations that overlook considerable areas of 
these strange “ Bad Lands ;” the scene of course varying greatly 
in its topographical details with every change in the position 
from which it is viewed. From a high point on the western 
bank of the Little Missouri, nearly opposite the mouth of Davis 
Creek, the view is that of a vast expanse of verdureless mounds 
and walls of naked rock, interspersed here and there with little 
grassy plateaux, and crossed by the green valley of Davis Creek, 
with its scanty fringe of low trees. Bright red is the prevail- 
ing color of the landscape, but in the nearer ridges the bands eo | 
yellowish-brown, dark-brown, and grayish shades are also i | 
tinguishable. The surface of the country is everywhere deeply 
scored, some of the higher points being two hundred and fifty to 
three hundred feet above the bed of the Little Missouri, and the 
