Volume 1

3l6
DOG DEN—ALKALI—THE MISSOURI SIGHTED.
knew of any wooded lake in this plain, and that we must
be far from the direct route. One of my people who had
been at the Missourie said it resembled the lake where
Morgan and Mooney were murdered a few years ago by
the Sioux, near the Mission du Chien;'''
but our guide was
of a contrary opinion, and said we must be too far westward.
However, went to a narrow strait in the lake about 30
yards wide, where we crossed, having the water up to our
saddles, but a good sandy bottom. We attempted to
drink, but found the water to be nauseous and sulphurous,
though perfectly clear. After the horses had got dry they
were perfectly incrusted with the white saline particles for
the rest of the day. I have observed that such small lakes
in the plains generally have the same nauseous waters.
The beach is often covered with a salt which has the same
taste as Glauber's" and produces the same effect. Even
the water causes a looseness in a very short time. Fresh
water is now plenty in rain pools, but when the season is
dry is to be found only in the rivers and large lakes.
We continued on our S. course until five o'clock, when,
ascending a range of very high hills running E. and W., we
could discern through the spyglass the high red banks of
the Missourie, about six leagues distant. Here we had a
long consultation. Some of the party assured me it was the
^' Sic : read Maison du Chien and translate Dog's House or Dog's Den.
This is a conspicuous elevation on the edge of the Coteau du Missouri, now
called Dog Den butte ;
place there whose name I find mapped as " Dogden,"
in the S. W. portion of Church Co. There is a considerable lake about 5 m.
from the butte, very likely the one at which the text says Morgan and Mooney
were murdered. But the guide was right in maintaining that the lake they saw
now was not this one, for they are evidently many miles W. of it, holding a S.
course from Mouse r. On the return trip, Henry keeps much further E., and
then passes near the Dog's Den, which he notices by name. It is a conspicuous
landmark for shaping one's direct course between Mouse r. and the
Missouri. Thompson's MS. notes it particularly, with bearings and distances.
2^ The principal ingredient of the alkali with which the water of these small
lakes is saturated is in fact Glauber's salt—sulphate of soda. I have myself
seen in this region many pools whose banks were as white as if drifted with
snow, and whose water would be undrinkable, even to the traveler who should
be perishing with thirst.