PRODUCTIONS, Sec.—BOOK I. 
9 
part of the country, traversed by this river, or its waters, was vol¬ 
canic; this still remains uncertain.* There is no doubt but that 
many of these appearances arise from the burning of coal banks. 
Near the Mandans, there are places in which smoke is emitted 
from the high banks of the river, and putting down a stick into 
the fissure, fire is instantly communicated. I think it probable, 
that a close examination of the country, will discover traces of 
extinguished volcanoes. Mr. Lisa, informed me, that he had 
been told by Indians, and some of his hunters, that about sixty 
miles from his fort, on the Roche Jaime, at the entrance of a riv¬ 
er, there is a mountain which emits flames. This is about two 
hundred miles from the mouth of the Roche Jaune. In this 
part of the country, I am well informed that great quantities of 
sulphur can be procured ; it is found not only in caves, but can 
be scraped off the prairies in the manner of the salt. 
I have spoken of the minerals which are found in the great¬ 
est quantities, I shall now mention such, as are more thinly dis¬ 
persed through the territory. 
Copper, is certainly found on the Mississippi, between la 
riviere des Moines and the Ouisconsing; and several other places 
in the territory are mentioned. There is iron ore on the St. 
Francis, on the Maramek, on the Osage, and in great quantities 
throughout the White river country. On the St. Francis there 
are said to be huge masses like rocks. Several gentlemen who 
have examined specimens from these different places, do not 
think favorably of the ore, but I believe no proper trial of it, has 
yet been made. 
There doubtless exists a variety of minerals, which a better 
acquaintance with the country will discover: it has not been at¬ 
tentively examined by any skilful mineralogist. Mr. Bradbury, 
on a visit to the mine a Burton, informed me that he found those 
working at the mines, throwing away as useless, the blende ore 
of Zinc. The late Dr. Elliot of St. Genevieve,f informed me 
* A thorough examination of the causes of the late earthquake 
might perhaps throw light on this subject. The seat of this convulsion 
may be far to the west. 
f Formerly of Connecticut. I cannot refrain from seizing this oppor* 
-tunity of paying a tribute to the memory of that excellent man. Possess- 
