71
remarkably cold and muddy. At the common stage of the waters, in these two streams, the Missouri is supposed to be the largest river. This junction is formed twenty-five miles below the Illinois, and two hundred and thirty miles above the Ohio.
The land on the banks of the Missouri are rich, and where they are well cultivated, exceedingly productive. There are two settlements, Saint Charles and Saint Andrew, principally inhabited by emigrants from Kentucky. Other small settlements have commenced further up the river. The most distant settlement of white people is Saint John's, which is one hundred miles from its mouth. The great extent of this river was unknown until it was, explored by Captain Lewis, and Captain Clark. Traders had before ascended two thousand miles, but Captain Lewis computes the distance from the mouth to the great falls, to be two thousand five hundred and seventy-five miles. About one hundred miles above Saint John's, the river becomes broad,being eight hundred and seventy-five yards wide, where the Osage river enters; but about fifty miles further up it narrows again to about three hundred yards. The Osage comes in from the south, and is one hundred and ninety-seven yards wide at its mouth. The Osage Indians reside on this river, from whom it takes its name, about two hundred miles from its mouth. Here the extensive prairies commence, wholly destitute of trees,
