Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-11-22
Remarkable Discoveries.

Remarkable Discoveries.
Lieut.. Simpson of the U. s. Typographical
Engineers on recent excursion from San,e Fe
IN New Mexico to the territory Of The Navaioe
indians, has made discoveries both Of remains of
ancient works and of natural features Of the
country which are quite remarkable, and deserve
to be more thoroughly explored. history og
this excursion which he made with detachment
of 400 men, in period of 40 DAYS, is given in a
letter addressed TO the head of the Topograph
ica Department. lie says under date Of
SANTr FR, NEw Mexico, Sept. %, 1910.
The expedition consisted of artillery and in
fantry (regulars,) volunteers, Pueblo aud Mcxc-
an militia, ard, inclusive of employees IN the
Qnar,rrmnsef's Department, numbered probably
about 400 men. 1t started fiom here on The 10Th
OF August and returned on the 2Gh OF Septen.
Der. The route taken was hence soulhwardly,
via Sine Domingo, TO Jancz; and thence in
general terms north of west, over aud through
series of arroyus clnnons, mcsas, aud mountain
pnsscs--io tho mouth of the renowned cannon Of
ChaIIle pronounced Chay.el the termination of
our march westward, and place whero the treaty
was negotiated. The return route lay more
soubwardy, md was by tie way of The Pueblos
OF Rum and Lagunn, to Albuquerque, and
thence TO This place. The whole distance TO the
mouth of The cannon OF ChaiIle from Sante Fe
was, by the outward route, 270 miles by the
:
$50 niles
All along the route VIC met with objects of in
tercs; but what probably excited more than
anything else, was series Of runs in the cam
non 0f Chacco, which, doubtless, from their To-
callty, appearance, and numbers are the We iti-
be remains OF the AZtecs OF the 18th century;
The locality Of which, on The authority of some
OF the maps Humboldt has uscribed to the vicin.
age OF the very spot where they were found
mi, ,,f 4.
character, both on account of the mechanical
skill and taste which they display, and of the
undonbted evidence Which they display of nav.
ing been erected at "A very remote period. The
Indians Of the present day know nothing of
them, except that, according to tradition, they
were inhabited by people which came from the
north; that NonlcZuma was The Governor of this
peoples and that, after living here Tor period,
hey dispersed some eastwardlv towards lie
RIO GrandP, others sUulhwardly towards the city
of Mexico.
Each pueblo simple structure, covering
10 some instances, as mucn as two acres IN eX-
tent; discovering IL places by the still standing
walls, lGtlr stories IN height, ami confirming as
many rs Three aud four hundred rooms. The
mann walls, plain surfaces thruu hOnt thclr whole
extent, on the exterior are very nearly three feet
thick at base, and retreat on the inner side by
series oil small joys from bottom TO top, thus
ies:enlng the thickness gradually from the bot
tom upwards. The whole structure is built of u
beautifully compact lamclar sandstone the in
ner portion oi this kind Of stone AMI of clay
mortar; and the outer portion faced with pieces
OF rectangular eXactness, and 81 thin that three
inches may he considered as their mlXlmu
thickness, ana three quarters OF an inch their
least The general appearance Of the face Of
the building, at IltIlr distance of, is that of
magnificent piece of Mosaic work.
| Another ohlec: OF interest which the eXpe1i-
ton has enabled US to see the far famed can
non OF ChaIIle, which has ever been regarded ds
the strong hold of the Navaiocs, on account of
the immense depth and unnecessarily OF its
walls, aud the imprcgnlbe tort which 1t is said
20 contain. The Idea Of the trisience Of The fort
we are now enabled 10 explode; the security
which II Is capable Of aflurding to The Nayajoes
we ma has been overraled; bat the depth and
suhlimlty OF tic cannon, so far from having been
too greatly magned, we are nov fee To nc
knowledge greatly surpassed our expectations.
Tins cannon Will be regarded one OF the
PRIME OBJECTS Vt curiosity our country affords,
ahu VIM ever command tie attention of the ge-
o,ogis and tourist.
Il'lrd object Of interest which the expedr
ton has brou ght 10 light is the existence of
rock, OF ina9nbcent proportions and of fair sur
face upon which were found inscribed. in some
Instances in beautiful and Geepiy emgrauen char
"c'erS, the names OF number OF persons of
rank and OF distinction, in connection with the
dates OF Their passing by the locality, and some
other incidental illusions to occupation and his
tory. One Of these dates reaches back Us tar as
1906 and there are a number of others OF this
and The succeeding century. 1t is not at all im-
probable that these inscriptions hay be found Of
value IN the suggestion or establishment of some
point or points ui history, and as such are to be
!eS"rded WIN attention and interest Fac SIM
les OF all these Inscriptions have had taken. as
wen as drawings made OF every mportan, OBJ
Jecl OF natural curiosity, and plans and drawings
made OF all the principal Iuius WINCH have come
under cue observation.