The turbid character of the waters of the Missouri
has been frequently attributed to the volumes of earth
and sand brought into it by the Yellow Stone, one
of its largest tributaries; but it is ascertained to
have the same character to the very gates of the
Rocky Mountains, where it comns rushing through
deep and perpendicularly walled defiles towards the
great plaijis ; and the fact seems to be established,
that in those distant regions the unprotected surface
of the earth is undergoing a gradual change, and is
gradually being washed down by the action of the
rains and ten tliousand streams.
There are phenomena connected with the Missouri,
and indeed all the great western rivers, which would
appear at first consideration almost inexplicable.
Among these, none is more remarkable than that pre-
sented by the comparatively small volume of water
which they appear to contain at the points where
they disembogue themselves, after a course of thou~
sands of miles in length, and the reception of so many
tributary waters. Take the facts connected with the
Missouri. At the Mandan villages, two thousand
miles from its sources, and sixteen hundred from
the Mississippi, it is said to be as deep and as wide
as at St, Charles, a few miles above its mouth.
Yet within these points it receives a number of large
tributaries, among which we may name the Platte



and the Kansas r



, the former of which brings



L



r




132 THE MISSOURI.
