A System of Geography, Popular and Scientific, Or, a Physical, Political, and Statistical Account of the World and Its Various Divisions Volume 5, N (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1850 edition. Excerpt: ...encroaching. At some distance below the confluence, the Missouri is two miles wide, with a ra pid current of ten miles an hour in some parts, the rapidity increasing as we approach the mouth of the Platte; the velocity of which, combined with the vast quantity of rolling sands which are drifting from it into the Missouri, renders it completely unnavigable, unless for flats or rafts, though the Indians pass it in small flat canoes made of hides, and the Americans have contrived to navigate it by means of keel-boats, which being constructed to draw but little water, and built upon a small keel, are remarkably well-adapted for sailing up rapid and shallow streams. The Platte runs a course of 15 degrees of longitude, from W. to E., or more than 800 miles.--About 1,026 miles up the Missouri, is the entrance of Sapid river, which is so rapid and full of moving sands, as to be unnavigable through its whole course of 300 miles from W. to E.--Still higher up is the White river, 300 yards broad, and navigable to a great distance. One hundred and eighty miles above the White river, and 1,260 up the Missouri, the Chyanne falls in from the S.W. It is 400 yards broad, and navigable to the Black mountains, where it rises in the third range.--At Fort Mandan, in 99 24' 56" W. long, and 47 21' 47" N. lat., the Missouri is 500 yards broad. Ninety-two miles beyond Fort Mandan, and 1,700 miles up the river, the Little Missouri enters, which, in colour, current, and taste, exactly resembles the Missouri. It rises in the Black mountains, and runs more than 240 miles from S. to N. in direct distance: but its velocity and numerous sand-bars, and comparative shallowness--being only 2J feet deep--render its navigation impossible but for light canoes, ...