The Black Hills

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

There are some sections of our extensive country almost as little known as the interior of Africa. The St. Louis (Mo.) Republican states that a party has just recently returned to that city from an exploring expedition in a wild region known by the above appellation. It is a vast country of movable sands, sterile, bleak and inhospitable. There are small streams at remote distances in it, upon which there is spare vegetation ; sufficient, however, for the subsistence of the Indians' horses and some buffalo. It must ever be the home of nomadic tribes, who wander about like those of the wild wastes of Asia in search of the small patches of pasturage which are fructified by the irrigation of distant rivulets. This country has been supposed to be fertile from its geographical position and its appearance upon the map, but it proves to be wholly otherwise. The party consisted of sixty men, and the Sioux, who are numerous there, forbid the return of any more white men. They said that this party might pass, because it was the first, but no others must come, as they scared away their game, and would discover their strongholds and hiding-places.

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.

In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.

There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.

Thank you,

David M. Ewalt, Editor in Chief, Scientific American