Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1874-10-22

EXPLORATIONS IN THE ARIZONA WILD LANDs-rHE
CANYONS AND THE WALLED DCITIEs--INTEREsTrNa
DETAILS BY A MEMBER OF THE PARTY
Mr.. Wm. H. jackson, chief of the photograph
c division of the Hayden Expedition paid a
short visit to this city Saturday, returning to
Washington on the midnight train, in the course
of which visit he communicated many interest.
ing particulars of the adventurous survey from
which his party is the first to return. The sec
ton OF country surveyed in this seasons labors
is one of which less has hitherto been known
than Of nearly any other region of the continent.
and though Offering few advantages to tempt
enlsrants and settlers presents natural features
OF the most interesting character.
| THE ROUTE pUgsuED,
| which lay westward from the junction OF the
| -four territories of Colorado Arizona, Utah, and
New Mexico. alternated from wooded mountain
ranges, rich in mineral deposits and snmal life,
to the desolate tracts scanned with networks OF
| canyons, which offer appalling difficulties to
travellers. 1t it upon the Mesas, or elevated
| plains, of this dreary region, though somewhat
| farther to the westward that the much talked
OF diamond fields are located, as vet little known
| to actual experience. Travel over these Mesas
| is of course mpracticabe. scanned as they arc
with innumerable ciasms, varying in depth to
| thousand feet, and in width from those a man
could leap over to three or four hGndred feet
Inc fUiite conse uently lies at the bottom oil The
| canyons, where without experienced guides, there
| Ii great danger that the traveller will lose his
way in the
LABYRINTH OF ISTERsEcTIN6 GoRdEs,
and die for lack of water before recovering
the track 1t il in the sides of these PERCEPTIONS
canyons that the interesting remains have been
discovered of the comparatively civilized race
which formerly possessed this region Their
dwelling places, pefched high on the cliffs or
fortified behind walls of extraordinary thickness
still attest considerable degree of constructive
ability They are built accurately square, in
distinction from the round huts Of savage ma
tions, of dressed stone, carefully plas,ered with
in with smooth cement with cedar lintels above
the doors and windows. The pottery of which
many remains may be found is glazed with while
enamel, within and without, and ornamented
with colored figures, among which the image OF
the Sun frequently occurs. This and the fact
that the dwellings are in every case built to face
the East, point out their ancient Inhabitants as
RACE or suS-woRsHIppERH.
Many implements and weapons Of sharpened
flint were discovered, but no traces OF wrought
metal in any form. No inscriptions were found,
but Mr.. Jscksons Indian guides assure him that
such writings are to be found further to the
Southwest, in which direction the survey propo-
ses to pnsh its way during the next season. The
inaccessible position Of these ancient buildings,
many pi which are now only to be scaled by the
assistance Of ropes, is no doubt in consequence
of the wearing away of the stairways and passa-
ges formerly channeled i'll the sandstone rock.
of which some traces are still occasionally to be
found Their elevated position would seem to
have been chosen for defepce against the pred
atory bands of the savages from the North, whose
attacks probably drove them farther South.
where their descendants may still exist, as
the Moqni Indians are said to show distinct traces
OF an Aztec origin. In one place Mr.. Jackson
found upon the open plain the
RUINS OF A WALLED CITY,
the walls haiuu tvanfv faat thicl iuiu.np
from the mass of scattered masonry, of consid-
cradle height but everything reduced to
utter ruin, though it is suspected that caches of
their effects are hidden under those piles OF
stones, perhaps to be hereafter discovered by
some of the enterprising wanderers who
continually exploring son their own hook" with
out definite aim or apparent motive, but whose
desultory discoveries have in many instances
been an ssistanco to the scientific labors of the
survey.
OF DANGER, EITHER FROM INDIANS
or wild beasts the Expedition has been 30 for-
tunately free that its members are disposed to
scout the idea that any such exist. Mr.. Jackson
reports the Indians as uniformly friendly when
treated with civility and consideration, and has
no belief that there il snythinG 10 be feared
from them. He pooh-poohs the frequent
counters of his party with grizzlies and COM
mon bears IN the same.way, declaring that these
creatnres ere always act on the peaceful principle
American lions, or cougars they saw less,
though the frightful yowls of these beasts were
frequently heard round the camp fires, exciting
apprehensions OF n stampede among the naules.
DEER ARE PLENTY on THE MOUNTAINS
and scarcely day passed without one or anotll-
er Of the party contributing fresh supply of
venison to the camp larder though this kind
of meats is deprecated by those thus accus-
toned to its consumption, in comparison with
the ''good fat bacon" which was their staple and
favorite dish. Bears meat Mr.. Jackson pro-
nounces too strong for civilized palates, but
grouse aud prairie hens were a frequent ana al
ways desirable addition to their bill of fare A
chief plague of the travellers WAS one from
which, on this side of the continent, high alti-
tude would secure them--the mosquitoes, which
were a serious annoyance i'll the high mountain
regions well as in the plains below.