The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-03-22
RUINS OF ANCIENT CITIES IN AMER.
TCA
Extraordinary Discovery in the Country
of the Navajoes.----Another PETRA

of the Navajoes.----Another PETRA
Strange Fashion of Building, etc., etc
On the 18th of October last, party o.
twelve Mormons and one Indian, headed
/ by w. d. Huntington, left Manti, one o
the most southern settlements in Utah
! Territory, by request of Gov. Young, tc
explore the southern part the Territory
of which nothing is known, and if posi-.
bic 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, considerable skill
in manufactures, and make all their
blankets, leather, bridle-bits, Sc, many
of which are executed with most curious
workm anship. They also work iron, gold
and silver into multitude of forms, and
articles for the warrior, husbandman and
tradosman. The party returned to the
Mormon settlements on the 2lst of De-
cember 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
Petra in the Eastern Desseret, aud even
surprising it in extent. From Mr. Hunt
ington's account, furnished the Desert
News, we take the following highly inter.
esting particulars
On the 18th, we left Manti with our
full outfit of men aud animals, and with
FIVE wagons. We never felt more gloomy
and doubtful, or undertook what appear
ed to US a more hazardous work, during
an experience of twenty years in this
church. A wild, mountainous and drea-
ry 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 post.
ed themselves on our route, and their
rallying smoke was in full view. Still
We unanimousl y resolved to 60 ahead, and
our enemies fed before We reached their
position, the Spaniards their way and
Walker his, leaving our path perfectly O.
pen.
We followed Gunnison's trail to within
25 miles of Grand River, which, accord
ing to our calculation, is $50 miles from
Great Salt Lake City. This road, SO
far, was tolerably 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 grazing range, is very well timbered
and watered, and is about fifty miles from
the Elk Mountain. From here we trav-
eled ITO miles to St. Johns Rivers, over
very rough and mountainous region,
difficult to pass over even with pack ami
mails, being covered with dense forests of
cedar. 1t is forty miles from St. Johns
River to the nearest Navajo town.
Reception by the Navajoes---Cannibalism.
The Navajoes met US with very hostile
feelings, 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 evaporation. By the
persuation of two friendly Indians with
us-our guide and interpreter-they lis
tened to an explanation of our business
We were finally enabled to form 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
q white man can take among Indians
Their great Captain wished US not to 60
among their towns and villages, as there
were some that could not be controlled,
and he did not want to fight Us. He said
we had come very great way, and be
wished us well, and sent to his town and
brought out an abundance of corn, meal,
70 ur, bread, beans, dried pumpkin, 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 Riv.
obo,+ Cue bncIro1 ,n,los .n,,tb