The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-11-24
From the Nation i Intelllgeneer.
NA- kIss-.


We have been favored with a copy Of the fol-
lowing interesting letter to the Chief Of the
Typographical Bureau:
SANTA Fr, New Mexico, Sept. %, 1919.
Sir: On the I4th Of August | had the honor
TO submit my maps and report Of the route from
Fort Smith 10 Santa Fe, and also to inelose an
order from Lieat. Col. Washington, command
ing this department, directing me TO accompany
him in an exposition TO the Navaloe country.-
This expedition has been effected, and, as I
think, with important results. A treaty. has
been made by which the Navaioes acknowledge
the right Of the Government Of the United
States to establish military posts, Indian ag.n-
cies, and trading houses among them; FIX aad
mark boundaries between themselves and 9TH
ers; interfere In and control their political re-
lations with neighboring tribes; and in general
exercise all that fostering care which il has been
in the habit of exercising toward the Indian
tribes bordering the States. In addition to this
a-knowledge Of the country has been obtained
IN regard to localities, routes, mountain passes.
geological formations, soil, timber, plants. apei
ent ruins and ancient inscriptions, which can
not but be Of the highest value TO geography
and history.
The expedition consisted Of artillery and in
fantry, REGULARS volunteers, Pueblo and Mex.
lean militia, and, inclusive Of employees in the
luartermasters Department numbered proba-
bly, about 400 men. 1t started from here a the
10th OF August, and returned ON the 26th Of
Of September. The route taken was hence
southwardly, via Santa Domingo, to Janez: and
thence, in general terms north Of west, over and
through series of arroyas, canons, mesas and
mountain passes, localities and names unxnown
to science-to the mouth Of the renowned canon
OF Chaille, pronounced Chayle,) the termipa-
ton of our march westward, and the placs
where the treaty was negotiated. The return
route lay more southwardly, and was by the
pay The way Of the Pueblus of Zuni and La
guna to Albuquerque, aud thence to this place.
Inc whole distance to the mouth Of the canon
OF Chalile from Santa Pc was, by the outward
route, 219 miles; by the return route 3O7 nils
Total length of march SEQ miles.
AL along the route We met with objects Of in.
terest; but what probably excited more than
anything else, was a series Of ruins in the canon
OF Chacco, which, doubtless, from their locsIi-
ty, appearance, and numbers, are the yeri,.hla
remains of the AZtecs Of the 18th cepturv. ,ba
locality Of which, on the authority of some of
the maps, Humboldt has ascribed to the yicInaga
Of the very spot where they were found. These
ruins are Of an exceedingly interesting charac.
Ter, both on account Of the mechanical AZ iII
and taste which they display, and Of the un-
been erected at a very remote period. The In
dams Of the present day know nothing of them.
except that, according to tradition, thew vers
once Inhabited by people which came fror, tI,. |
Worth; that Montezuma was the Goveraor Of
ms people; and that, after living here for a
period, they dispersed-some eastwsrdIv To-
wards the Rio Grande, and others south war5Iv
towards the city Of Mexico.
Each pueblo Is a single structure. cover;n,
In some instances, as much as two acres in es'
lent; discovering in places, by the still standing
y ans, io9r stories In height, and containing as
plain surfaces throughout their whole extsnt
on the exterior, are very nearly three feet thick
1t base, and retreat on the inner side bv a ser;ss
Of smaltJogs from bottom to top, thus iesseuing
the thickness gradually from the bottom M,
ward. The whole structure is built of a bsaa- |
nfully compact lamellar sandstone; the inner
portion OF this kind Of stone and Of CLAW mar
lar; and the outer portion faced with pieces Of
rectangular exactness, and so thin that thyes
inches imay be considered as their maximum
thickness, and three quarters Of an inch their
east. The general appearance of the face of
he 5uilding, at little distance off. ia that AZ
magnificent piece Of mossic work
Another object Of interest which the sxpsdi
hon has enabled us to see was the far-famed
cannon OF Chaille, which has ever been regard
ID an the stronghold Ofthe Navsjoes, o accoun,
II the immense depth and inaccessbilIty of its
walls, and the impregnable fort which II was
aid to contain. The idea of the exisfsue, Of
he fort we are now enabled to explode; the s.-
,urity which it is capable Of affordinr to the
Navsjoes We find has been overrated; bu, che
iepth and sublimity Of the cannon, 80 far from
having been too greatly magni6ed, we are now
rec to acknowledge very much surpassed our
Expectations. The cannon will be REGARDED a.
me Of the prime objects Of curiosity our conn.
ry affords, and will ever command the attention
Il the geologist and tourist.
A third object of interest which the expsdi,;on
'ss brought to light 10 the existence of rock-
4 magnificent proportions and Of fair surface. 4,
pom which were foand inscribed, In some In II
tanees, In beautiful and deeply sagrsuea char
cters, the names of a number Of persons Of
ank and of distinction, in connection with the
ases Of their passing BY the locality, and some
thef incidental allusion TO occupation and his
DRY. One Of these dates goes a. far bach IA
QUO, and there are q number Of others Of this
nd the succseding century. II 10 not all i'm
rooeble that these inscriptions may BE- found
value In the suggestion or establishment Of
ono point or poiufn Of hiaforv and =. ..,.h -