rio and Lake Erie has been estimated at 450 feet, consequently from Lake Ontario to the head of tide waters on the St. Lawrence, the descent must be about 110 feet

more.

The principal tributary streams of the St. Lawrence, after passing Lake Superior, are the following: North side-Nepissing River, Thames River, Grand River, Chippeway Creek, Trent River, Outawas River, St. Maurice River, Sequenai River, and Black River. On the south side-Miami of the Lakes, Sandusky River, Cayahoga River, Grand River, Ashtabula River, Cattaragus Creek, Tonawanta Creek, Genesee River, Seneca River, Black River, Racket River, Richlieu River, St. Francis River, and Chaudiere River. The extent of country drained by the St. Lawrence River has been estimated at about 500,000 square miles.

The next and greatest of all the North American rivers is the MISSISSIPPI and MISSOURI. By looking at the map it will be seen that this river and its waters extend from the central part of the Rocky Mountains west, to near the central part of Pennsylvania east, a distance of nearly 1700 miles, and from above the parallel of 50 north to its outlet in the Gulf of Mexico, a distance of more than 1650 miles. This immense river has three prominent head branches, the Ohio on the east side; the Mississippi proper, in the middle; and the Missouri west; of which the last is by far the largest. These three branches and their tributary streams, we shall first briefly describe; then notice the Great United Trunk to its outlet, and then the tributary streams after the junction with the Ohio.

The highest source of the Missouri River is the head of Jefferson's River in 44° 13′ N. lat. and 35o 20′ W.

long. Eighty miles below* it unites with Philanthropy River from the south. Twelve miles below it receives Wisdom River from the west; and thirty-two miles further Field's River from the north. Ten miles below Frazier's River falls in from the south, and three miles further on it receives Philosophy River from the same quarter. Twenty miles below this, Madison's River, nearly 100 miles long, falls in from the south; and a few miles below, Gallatin's River from the same quarter, supposed length about 100 miles. The river now assumes a N. N. W. course, and passing over several minor streams, it receives at the distance of 70 miles Dearborn's River from the north-west, a stream which flows upwards of 100 miles. Seventy miles N. W. Smith's River flows in from the eastward, and the river having now assumed a north-east course, at 30 miles distance, near Medicine River, a large stream flowing in from the westward, it reaches the falls. Here the water descends 365 feet in the course of 18 miles distance, partly by perpendicular pitches and partly by rapids. The bighest pitch is 87 feet, the next highest 47, and the next 26. Immediately below the falls is Portage River; and 22 miles below, in a northeast direction, Maria's River falls in from the north-west. This stream is computed to be 180 miles long. Here the river winds S. E. and E. and during a progress of 130 miles receives Slaughter River, Big Horn River, Judith River, and Muscle Shell River, from the south; and Stone Wall Creek, Turtle Creek, Windsor Creek, North Mountain Creek, and Wiser's Creek, and then receives Bratton's River, from the north-west. Soon after, the river

* In all calculations as to distances on these rivers they are taken by comparative course, that is by measurement on the map with ten miles on the compass, without regard to particular sinuosities.

winds to the north-east, and receiving, besides lesser streams, Milk River, Porcupine River, and Martha's River, at the distance of 180 miles, it unites with Yellow Stone River. The last is a very large river, which rises in Lake Eustis, 80 miles S. E. from the head of the Missouri, and flows in a N. E. direction about 600 miles, receiving in its passage many tributary streams, particularly Big Horn River, which rises in Lake Biddle, only 40 miles S. E. from Lake Eustis. The Yellow Stone is 860 yards broad at its outlet, and is about the same size here as the Missouri. After the junction with the Yellow Stone, the Missouri becomes a very large stream, and it will be seen by inspection on the map that it is yet far beyond the highest sources of the Mississippi. Fifty miles north-east from the mouth of the Yellow Stone, the river reaches its most northerly point, where it receives the White Earth River, and then turns to the S. E.; and below, fifty miles, the Little Missouri falls in from the west. This river rises in the S. W. about 225 miles distant. A little above the mouth of the Little Missouri there is a portage of only one mile to the Mouse River, a branch of Assiniboin, which falls into Lake Winnipeg. Thirty-five miles below Little Missouri is Miry River on the east; and 15 miles below it is Knife River on the west. Twenty miles below is Fort Mandan, where Lewis and Clark spent the winter of 1804-5. Fifteen miles delow the fort, the river makes a bend to the south, at the Mandan Villages. The river now holds a course nearly south, for about 22 miles, in which it receives a considerable number of tributary streams from both sides, the last of which flowing from the west is Chayenne, length about 200 miles. Assuming here a S. E. course, after a distance of 50 miles, it reaches the Big Bend, where the distance is above 30 miles by water, and only

Jmiles by land. Below this, 40 miles, in a south direction, it receives White River from the west, a stream upwards of 200 miles long, and then bending to the southeast, at the distance of 60 miles, the Quicourre, a stream upwards of 300 miles long, falls in from the west. Here again the river turns to the north of east, and at the distance of 40 miles receives Jacques River from the N. Winding to the S. E. 60 miles, the Sioux, a large stream, falls in from the north. The river pursues a S. E. course for about 40 miles, and then makes a sudden bend to the N. E., and bending again to the S. E., and pursuing a crooked course for about 70 miles, it reaches the position of Council Bluffs, the most distant military post of the United States.* Below this, about 40 miles, in a S. E. direction, the waters of the Platte River fall in from the west. This river is 600 yards wide at its outlet, and is represented to be very shallow and abounding with rapids. It rises 750 miles W. by N. among the Rocky Mountains, not far from the head waters of the Yellow Stone River. From the Platte to the Kanzas River, the Missouri runs a course generally S. E. about 200 miles, and then passes the Missouri state line. The Kanzas River rises about 550 miles W. by N., not far from the first ridge of the Rocky Mountains. It is 230 yards wide at its outlet. About 50 miles from the western boundary of the state of Missouri, the river passes the army lands, and turning to the S. E. it passes Franklin, and about 50 miles below receives the Osage River from the S. W. The Osage is a large and interesting stream, nearly 400 yards wide at its outlet. It rises in the Osage country, about 350 miles west-south-west. This is the last river of note which the

* An expedition has recently ascended the Missouri to the Yellow Stone River.

Missouri receives previous to its junction with the Mississippi, which is nearly east from the mouth of the Osage, distant about 120 miles, 14 miles above St. Louis, and 20 below St. Charles. The Missouri and its waters, already described, spread over a country containing about 674,000 square miles. At the junction with the Mississippi it is about half a mile broad, and very deep, running with a strong current, the waters being muddy and turbid. The Mississippi on the other hand is a clear broad stream, and rather shallow. It does not contain so much water, nor does it spread over such an extent of country as the Missouri, but its course being straight, while the Missouri joins it at a right angle, it received and retains the principal name.

The Mississippi Branch, or Mississippi Proper, rises in Turtle Lake and Lake Labeish, about north latitude 47° 47, which, after running south about 30 miles, unite their waters in Cassina Lake. From here to the junction with the Missouri, the course is about south-south-east, but there are considerable windings in the stream. Below Cassina Lake about 50 miles, by the river's course, is Lake Winnipeg, and 30 miles below that, Little Winnipeg Lake. Below, 60 miles, are the Falls of Packagama; and forty-five miles below that is Sandy Lake, from which, through the Savannah and St. Louis Rivers, there is a portage into Lake Superior. Below Sandy Lake about 120 miles is Pine River, a stream about 70 miles long, setting in from the north. Fifty miles below is the River de Corbeau, from the same side; after which the Mississippi passes the Little and Big Falls, receiving several unimportant streams from both sides; and at the distance of 178 miles are the Falls of St. Anthony. Here the water falls 16 feet perpendicular, and has rapids of 58 feet below. Ten miles below the falls, St. Peter's River, a large