Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-03-26

lc,ter descriptive of the Hayden expe-
ditiun's explorations in southwestern COL
orado tells the following:
Aside from the interest attaching 10 The
ruins themselves, there are thrlwn about
this rock and its surroundings tue romance
and charm of legendary association. The
story runs thus as given by our guide:
Formerly the ahorigines inhabited all this
country we have been over rs far west as
the headwaters OF the San Juan, as far
north as the Rio Dolores. west some dis
tance into Utah, and south aud southwest
throughout Arizona and on down into
Mexico.
They had lived there from time itnmem-
orial-since the earth was small island,
which augmented as its inhabitants multi
piled. They cultivated the valley, fash
ioned whatever utensils and tools they de-
sired very neatly and handsomely out of
clay, wood and stone, not knowing any of
the useful metals built their houses and
kept their tiocks and herds in the fertile
river bottoms, and worshipped the sun.
They were an eminently peaceful and pros
porous people, living by agriculture rather
than by the chase.
About a thousand years ago, however,
| they were visited by savage strangers from
the north, whom they treated Hospitality.
Soon these visits became more frequent
and annoying. Then their troublesome
neighbors-ancestors of the present Utes-
began to forage upon them, and, at last, to
massacre them and devastate their farms
/ n iba1r Of l,,,tI 4
houses high upon the cliffs. where they
could store food anI hide away ill the
raiders len.
But one summer the invaders did not gC
back to their mountains ms the people ex,
pected, but brought their families will
them and settled down. So driven from
their homes and lands, starving in theil
little nicfes on the high cliffs, they coulC
only steal away during the night and wan
der across the cheerless uplands. To on,
who has Travelled these stepres such
flight seems terrible, aud the mind hesi
tales to picture.
At the cristone they haltrd and probably
found friends, for the rocks and caves ar
full OF the nests of these human wrens ant
swallows. Here they collected, erecte,
stone Notifications aud watch towers, dul
reservoirs in the rocks TO hold a supply O
water, which in all cases is precarlous Ii
this latitude, and once more stood at bay
Their foes came, and for one long mont
fought and were beaten back, and returne
day afler day TO attack as merciess and in
eVitable rs the tide.
Meanwhile the families Of tue defender
we're evacuating and moving south, an,
bravely did their protectors shield then
, till they were all safely a hundred mile
away. The besiegers were beaten bac
and went away. But the narrative tells u
that the hollows Of the rocks were filled {
the brim with the mingled blood of con
querors and conquered, and red veins Of
: ran down into the canon.
1t wac such victory as they could ne
afford to gain again, and they were gla
= when the long fight was over To folio,
their wives and little ones to the soutl
: There, in The deserts of Arizona, ON we
, nigh unapproachable isolated bluffs, the
! built new towns, aud their few descend
ants, the Moquis, live In them TO this day
preserving more carefully and purely III
+ history and veneration OF their forefathei
= than their skill or wisdom. 1t was froI
one Of their old men that ibis tradition
sketch was obtained.