Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-03-23
PUNCH.
Ruins of Ancient Cities In America.


ErtFaOdearY Dcorer1es The Country of the Navajoes
ohn9ther Petra-Strange Fashion of Building, etc. etc.
On the lth october last, party of twelve Nor
mons and one Indian, headed by w. D Huntington,
lett Mantl, one OF the most southern settlements in
Utah Territory, by request of Gov Young 10 explore
the southern part OF the Territory of which nothing
is known, and If possible open trade with the Nava
Joes, who dwell in that quarter for Sheep goats and
horses, OF which it known they have an abundance
They have, besides, considerable skill in manufac
lures, and make all their blankets leather bridle
bits, &c, many of which executed with most Gu
rlous workmanship They also work ron gold and
silver INTO multitude of foms and articles for the
Warrlor''hus bandman and tradesman The party re-
turned 10 the Mormon settlements on the 21st of
Dec last, having on their trip made some most re.
markabIe discoveries They found in fact, the ruins
OF city built in the rocks, very similar to the far
famed Petra in the Eastern Desert and even surpass
ing it in extent. From Mr.. Hurtington's account,
furnished the Desseret News we il The fo1lowinp
highly interesting particulars
On the 18th, we left Manti with our full outfit of
men and animals and with five wagons We never
felt more gloomy and doubtful, or undertook what
appeared TO US a more hazardous work. during an ex-
perence of twenty years in this church Wild
mountainous and dreary desert, hitherto almost en-.
trely unknown, lay before US, and what was still
more formidable, Indian Walker and his allies had
decreed that we never should pass, and with twenty
Spanlards had posted themselves on our route and
their rallying smoke in full view. Still we unan-
lmousy resolved to go ahead, and our enemies fled
before we reached their pestion the Spaniards their
way and Walker his, leaving our path perfectly open
We followed Gunnisons trail to within 25 miles of
Grand River, which, according to calculation is
$50 miles from the Great Salt Lake City. This road
so far, was toerably good one, but the country has
little or no wood, grass water. There is beau
tifuI valley grand River, twenty miles long and
from five TO ten miles wide. 1t has good soil and
grazing range, very we'll tmbered ana watered, and
Is about fifty miles from the Elk Mountain. From
here we travelled 10 miles TO St Johns Rivers over
very rough and mountainous region, difficult to pass
over with pack animals, being covered with dense
forests of cedar 1t is forty miles from ohn's Ri
to the nearest Navajo town.
RECEPTION BY THE Observation-Disclosures.
The Navajoes met with very hostile feelings, as
they at war with the whites and three DAYS be.
fore arrived had killed, boiled and eaten white
man, great their exasperaon. By the per-
suaslon of two friendly Indians with us-our guide
and inteTpreter-they listened to explanation of our
business. We were finally enabled to form a treaty,
and did some trade with them, while they were do
ing tall stealing from US They were highly
excited, but the chiefs cool appear ed quite
friendly, and wished to come a. ain and trade
Trade is the best letter OF introduction a white man
can take among Indians Their great Captain wish
ed lis not to go among their town and villages, as
ther" that could not be controlled, and he
did not want to fight He said we had come We
ry great way, and he wished well, and sent 10 his
town and brought out an abundance of corn meal
-four, bread beans, dried pumpkin dried squash pine
nuts 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 bout
five hundred miles southeast from Great Salt Lake
City, we travelled over a section of country mostly
among the mountains, and about forty miles in length
up and down the river, by twenty five miles in width
cOversd 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 yet in the wall some protecting
eight or ten inches, but to point at their ex
tremetles. Every building was fortiicaon built in
the strongest manner mag enable, and in style that
| the present age knew nothing of; many Of them Still
plainly show the whole manner of structure and ever
| the marks of the workmans tools The first ruin,
discovered three stone buildings crumbled +,
mere heaps. One appeared to have been a pottery
for in and around ii loads Of fragments of crock
cry OF fine quality 0rnamented with great variety O
figures, painted with various coors AS bright AS If Nh
| on but yesterday.
! FORTIFIED CITY.
From here we Travelled ten miles, with o,casiona
ruins by the way, and entered deep canon with pro
ectng shelves of rock and under these shelves wer
numerous houses or fOrtifcalions The one we ex
| amlned was divided into twenty-four rooms, eacl
nearly square, and enclosing an erea of about on
hundred and forty-four square feet The front wa
was built up to the Overhanging Cliff, which Iorme
the roof, and was curved and full of portfolios Til
stones were all squared and faced were OF an con,
thickness and laid up with joints broken in a work
St Johns river called by the Spaniards and known
the maps Juan river takes its rise on the
the west side of the Rio Gralde nearly oppos
f Taos and running almost due empties into Grand
just above the point where Grand and rivers uA
form the Colorado The Juan passes through
try whichhas been rarely roddan by the white man.
vvhI nyvith