RIVERS k LAKES.—BOOK I. 
45 
MISSOURI. 
I have already observed that this is much the most consider¬ 
able of any of the rivers which swell the Mississippi, and one of 
the most wonderful in the world. It enters the Mississippi 
nearly at right angles in lat. 38° 55'; the confluence is by no 
means comparable to that of the Ohio, principally owing to an 
island at the entrance. The course of the river in ascending is 
little north of west to the Platte.f Above this, its course is near¬ 
ly N. W. until we reach the Mandan villages, in lat. 46. From 
this point the distance to the Mississippi is less than from the 
Platte. From the northernmost part of the great bend, above the 
Mandans, and in lat. 47° we ascend nearly west; the course of 
the three forks, Jefferson, Madison, and Gallatin, is nearly S. 
W. and S. 
The current of this river is at least a fourth greater than that 
of the Mississippi. To the Platte, it is amazingly swift, and stem¬ 
med with great difficulty, abounding with shoals and sand bars, 
sawyers, rafts projecting from the shore, and islands. It is al¬ 
most impracticable to descend in flat-bottomed boats even in the 
highest stages of the water : in barges great care and dexterity 
are requisite. It is far from being agreeable in appearance, un¬ 
less we consider the pleasure derived from contemplating its 
wonderful swiftness and force. Above the Platte, the Missouri, 
though not less swift in current, is rendered more easy of navi¬ 
gation by the large sand bars, and clear banks, which admit of 
towing: but from the scarcity of wood of a proper kind, it is 
necessary to lay in a sufficient stock of oars and poles. To the 
falls, two thousand miles further, it preserves the same charac¬ 
ter; the navigation however becomes less dangerous, or difficult, 
excepting from the shoals, which in low water are abundant. 
Above the falls or cataracts, there is a clear fine river five hun- 
f About twenty miles up, each river makes a sudden turn—the Mis¬ 
souri S W. and the Mississippi N, E. but, I do hot know upon what 
ground it is asserted, that after having descended either river for 
several days, the voyager will find himself within a days march of the 
other. 
