Buffalo Herds Are Confidently Expected To
Be Met With Here At All Seasons Of The Year." The Jacques (The Indian
Name of which is Tchan-sansan) "takes its rise on the plateau of the
Missouri beyond the parallel of 47
Degrees north; and after pursuing
nearly a north and south course, empties into the Missouri River below
43 degrees. It is deemed navigable with small hunting canoes for
between five hundred and six hundred miles; but below Otuhuoja, it
will float much larger boats. The shores of the river are generally
tolerably well wooded, though only at intervals. Along those portions
where it widens into lakes, very eligible situations for farms would
be found." The same explorer says, the most important tributary of the
Jacques is the Elm River, which "might not deserve any special mention
as a navigable stream, but is very well worthy of notice on account of
the timber growing on its own banks and those of its forks." He
further observes (Report, p. 46) that "the basin of the river Jacques,
between the two coteaux and in the latitude of Otuhuoja, may be laid
down as having a breadth of eighty miles, sloping gradually down from
an elevation of seven hundred to seven hundred and fifty feet. These
dimensions, of course, vary in the different parts of the valley; but
what I have said will convey some idea of the immense prairie watered
by the Tchan-sansan, which has been deemed by all travellers to those
distant regions perhaps the most beautiful within the territory of the
United States."
The middle and northern part comprises an elevated plain, of average
fertility and tolerably wooded.
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