Washington sentinel., 1855-03-15
Ruins of Ancient Cities In America.

l~"eS oOfo"o9 DtotctCfg W "tC SOuHTy VI
the Napqjoes - Another Petra = Strange
Fashion Of Building, dc, dc.
On the 18th Of October last, party of
twelve Mormons and one Indian, headed by
w. ID. Huntington, left Manti, one of the most
southern settlements in Utah Territory, by re-
quest of Gov. Young, to explore the southern
part of the Territory, Of which nothing is
known, and if possible open a trade with the
Navajoes, who dwell in that quarter, for sheep,
goats, and horses of which it is known they
have an abundance. They have, besides, con-
siderable skill in manufactures, and make all
their blankets, leather, bride bits, &C., many
of which are executed with most curious work
manship. They also work iron, gold, and sill
yer into multitude of forms, and articles for
the warrior, husbandman, and tradesman.
The party returned to the Mormon settlements
on the 2lst of December last, having on their
trip made some most remarkable discoveries.
They found, in fact, the ruins of city built
in the rocks very similar to the far-famed Pc
ira in the Eastern Desert and even surprising
it in extent. From Mr.. Huntington's account,
furnished the DESSERT News, we take the fol-
lowing highly interesting particulars.
On the 18th, we left Mant with our full out
fit of men and animals, and with five wagons.
We never felt more gloomy and doubtful, or
undertook what appeared to us more hazard.
Gus work, during an experience of twenty
years in this church. A wild, mountainous
and dreary desert, hitherto almost entirely un-
known, lay before US, and what was still more
formidable, Indian Walker and his allies had
decreed that we never should pass, and with
twenty Spaniards had posted themselves on
our routes, and their rallying smoke was in full
view. Still we unanimously resolved to go
oh nd al hacor i
their position, the Spaniards their way and
Walker his, leaving our path perfectly open.
We followed Gunnison's trail to within rs
miles of Grand River, which, according to our
calculation, is $50 miles from Great Salt Lake
City, This road so far, was tolerabe good
one, but the country has little or no wood,
grass or water. There is beautiful valley on
Grand River, twenty miles long, and from five
to ten miles wide. 1t has good soil and graz
ing range, is very well timbered and watered,
and is about fifty miles from the Elk Mountain
From here we travelled 10 miles to St. Johns
River over very rough aud mountainous
region, difficult to pass over even with pack
animals, being covered with dense forests of
cedar. 1t is forty miles from st. Johns River
to the nearest Navajo town.
Reception by the Navsjoes-CannibaIIsm
The Navaoes met us with very hostile feel.
ings, as they are at war with the whites, and
three days before we arrived, had killed, boiled
and eaten white man, so great was their ex-
asperation. BY the persuasion of two friendly
Indians with us-our guide and interpreter
| they listened to an explanation of our business.
We were finally enabled to form a treaty, and
did some trading with them, while they were
doing some tall stealing from us. They were
highly excited, but the chiefs were more cool,
appeared quite friendly, and wished us to come
again and trade. Trade is the best letter OF
| introduction white man can take among In
dians. Their great Captain wished us not to
go among their town and villages, as there
were some that could not be controlled, and he
did not want to fight us. He said we had come
a very great way, and he wished us we'll, and
sent to his town, and brought out an abun.
dance of corn, meal, flour, bread, beans. dried
squash, pinenuts, with sheep and goat meat Of
the finest quality, to fit US out for our journey
home.
First Discovery of Ruins.
On the north side of the st. Johns river.
and about five hundred miles southeast from
Great Salt Lake Citv, we travelled over sec
ton Of country mostly among the mountains.
and about forty miles in length, up and down
the river, by twenty-five miles in width, covered
with the ruins Of former towns and villages.
The walls Of many buildings are still standing
entire, some OF them three or four stories high,
with the ends Of the red cedar joists vet in the
wall, some projecting eight or ten inches, but
worn to point at their extremities. Every
building was fortihcation built in the strong
est manner imaginable, and in style that the
present age knew nothing Of; many OF them
still plainly show the whole manner of struc.
ture and even the marks Of the workmens 5 tools
The first ruins we discovered-were three stone
buildings, crumbled to mere heaps. One ap-
peared to have been pottery: for in and around
it we're loads of fragments Of crockery of fine
quality ornamented with great variety Of
figures, painted with various colors as bright as
if put on yesterday.
A Fortified City.
From here we travelled ten miles, with occa.
sional ruins by the way, and entered a deep
canon with projecting shelves Of rock, and un-
der these shelves were numerous houses or
fortifcations. The one we examined was d.
vided into twentyfour rooms, each nearly
square and enclosing an area of about one
hundred and forty.fo square feet. The front
wall was built up to the overhanging cliff,
which formed the roof and was curved and
full Of portfolios. The stones we're all squared
and faced, we're Of an equal thickness, and laid
up WIN JOINTS broken IN workmaDlike man.
per. The only entrance we could find was a
hole about two feet square and eighteen inches
from the ground, which is the usual size of all
the doors, both in the outer and partition walls,
with the exception Of some subterranean en-.
frances, which we're yet smaller and difficult
to find. Through the perfection OF the rocky
roof, there was very little rubbish in the rooms.
From the first room we passed through small
hole in the right hand corner to the second,
and there through another hole into the third,
and so on, from left room 10 right and from
right to left, all through the twenty four rooms;
and every wall was supplied with portfolios,
Fifty yards above this was large cave with
a narrow winding entrance, guarded by high
wall near the mouth Of this entrance is an
St Johns river, called by the Spaniards and
known on the maps az San Juan river. ID takes