The Port Gibson reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 185?-1857, 1854-05-03

lormons in Utah. on the east by the Rocky
Mountains skirting the right bank of the Rio
Grande. on the south by the Gila, aud on the
west by the Sierra Nevada, is region still
almost unknown. Trappers and mountain.
GERS have passed all round the inner side Of
ITS rim, but none have ever crossed it. with
the exception Of Mr. Beale, who traversed on
his recent trip its northern slope. and Captain
Joe Walker. the famous mountaineer. who
passed nearly through its centre in the win.
ter Of 1850. But little. therefore is known
regarding Il; but that little is exceedingly
interesting, and fills the mind with eaeerness
TO know more. From Capt. Walker we have
gathered many particulars regarding his cele-
bratcd trip, and the character Of this myste.
rious land, which had never before been
brought to light There is 70 lack of streams
within It; the Rio Colorado Chiauito. or
Little Red River. runs entirely across it,
about one hundred miles to the north Of the
Gila, and almost parallel to it, and empties
into the Colorado About one hundred and
twenty miles still north the San Juan follows
exactly the same course as the Little Red
River, aud empties into Grand River, the
most important branch Of the Colorado.
Grand River itself pursues a course little
southwest across the northern part Of the
basin, while the Avonkaree, large river dis
covered by Mr. Beale. Green River. and the
Rio Yirgen. are all large streams, which drain
the northern mountain rim, and run in a
southerly direction into the Colorado.
The great basin between the Colorado and
the Rio Grande is an immense table-land,
broken towards the Gila and the Rio Grande
/ BY detached sierras Almost all the streams
run through deep cannons. The country is
barren and desolate, and entirely uninhabited
But though now so bleak and forbidding,
strewn all around may be seen the evidence
that il was once peOpled by civilized and
thickly settled population. They have long
since disappeared but their handiwork still
remains TO attest their former greatness
/ Captain Walker assures US that the country
( from the Colorado to the Rio Grande. be-
tween the Gila and San Juan, is full Of ruined
habtatiOns and cities, most Of which are on
/ the table-land Although he had frequently
met with crumbling masses Of masonry, and
numberless specimens Of antique pottery.
such as have been noticed in the emigrant
trails south of the Gila, it was not until his
last trip across that lie ever saw a structure
standing. that occasion he had penetra-
ted about midway from the Colorado into the
wilderness. and had encamped near the Little
Red River, with the Sierra Blanca looming
up to the south, when he noticed at little
distance an object that induced him 10 exam
inc further. As he approached, he found it
to be citadel. around which lay the rsins Of
city more than a mile in length. Il was
located on a gentle declivity that sloped to-
wards Red River, and the lines Of the streets
could be distinctly traced. running regularly
at right angles with each other The houses
had an been built Of stones, but all had been
reduced 10 ruins by the action Of some great
heat, which had evidently passed over the
whole country. Il was not an ordinary con-
fagration, but must have been some fierce
furnaee-like blast of fire, similar to that issu-
ing from volcano. as tho stones we're all
burnt-somc Of them almost cindered. others
glazed as if melted This appearance was
visible in every ruin he met with. a storm
of fro seemed to have swept over the whole
face Of the country, and the inhabitants must
have fallen before it. In the centre Of this
city we refer to, rose abruptly a rock twenty
or thirty feet high, upons the top OF which
stood portion Of the walls Of what had once
been an immense building. The outline OF
the building was still distinct, although only
the northern angles. with walls fifteen or
eighteen feet long, and ten feet high. were
standing. These walls were constructed of
stone. well quarricd, aud well built. All the
south end Of the building seemed to have
been burnt to cinders, aud to have sunk to
mere pile Of rubbish. Even the rock on
which it was built appeared to have been par
TALLY fused by the heat
Captain Walker spent some time 10 exam
ining this interesting spot lie traced many
n The streets and the outlines Of the houses
bnt could find no other wall standing As
o,,su a he had seen ruins Of this character,
be had never until this occasion discovered
anv Of the implements Of the ancient people
Here he found number Of handmills, SINH
lar 10 those still used by the Pcublas and the
Mexicans for grinding their corn. They
were made Of light porous rock, and consisted
of two pieces about two feet long, aud ten
inches wide. one followed out, and the other
made convex, like roller. to tit the concav''
ty. They we're the only articles that had re-
sisted the heat. No metals Of any kind were
aund Strewn all around might be seen nu-
merous fragments Of crockery. sometimes
beautifully carved, at others painted. ms
however. was not peculiar to this spot as he
had seen antique pottery in every part OF the
country. from San Juan to the Glla.
Captain Walker continued his journey,
and noticed several more ruins little Oh ni'
route next day. bat be could not stop to ex-
lin s',,;ne them On this side of the Colorado be
has never seen any remains, except ot the
n~e.enf races. The Indians bave no traditions
rrai.,;ve r,L, 10 the ancient people once thickiy
settled iu this region. They look with won,
der upou these remains. but know nothing q
their origin. Captain Walker, Who we may
rsmark = a most intelligent and close oosery-
er Ear superior to the generality OF old Trap
ners and with a wonderfully retennve memo
y Z II opinion that this basin, now 50 par
rsn M was ouce charming country sustaining
-. Ia To-