The New York herald., 1875-09-26


those Of boys and great clumsy, rough hands of hard
working adults But they had all been painted there,
as children paint the impressions OF their little
hands now, by placing one on smooth surface and
daubng mud some coloring material around, thus
leaving a perfect outline Of the original
| We could picture TO ourselves mischlevous
little beauties even in those old days,
oooUErTING YOUNG MEN
as they ceased from their abors for a moment per-
hsps imprint upon the wall little hands spread
out thumb to thumb. Little did those triners think
that long centuries after they had passed away those
same hands would remain stretched other races
imporing them not to forget that such people had
existed
The top Of the cave formed natural roof TO this
tensive house town, which the only it pos
sessed although the vertical walls did not reach half
way up the top Of the But rain destroy
ing agency could enter here and therefore we cannot
wonder everything has remained pefectly pre-
served In this dry climate structure Of this kind,
built high above the level OF the country and sheltered
even from the wind by the walls OF deep cave might
remain thousand years almost perfect the day
il was finished. Tho ends of the cedar
rafters which separated the two stories
in OF the stll remained IN the walls those
portions which had been kept from the atmosphere in
the pasering being solid when first cut from the
tree That cedar, when kept dry, will last for many
centuries is a well established fact In the walls both
inside and out found willow loops, which were
cemented into the mortar and still protruded from the
walls, on which, probably jugs had been hung We
named the place "Casa del Echo" ON account Of the
very mpernent echo which initiated accurately every
word and sound uttered at the mouth of the cave
On the north bank Of the river short distance below
this climbed up to another cave whose entrance we
deserted several hundred feet above. 1t proved to be
12O feet Deep in back end Of which was a narrow
passage which might at one time have communicated
with the surface OF the or some other building
bu. which was now choked up with rubbish. Near
this passage cold spring of water which trcklcd
from beneath a large rock.
AT THE ENTRANCE THE CAVERN
were ruined walls still standing and extending for
some distance out to either side; while on the sides
Of the opening were huge hieroglyphics, singular
cravings and star like figures. Thus the denizens of
this comfortable dwelling supplied their very
door with cool, sparkling water, while their buildings
sheltered from observation and the burning rays
Of the There must certainly have been great
change throughout all Of this country which these
ruins found, for it certainly would have been i'm
possible under the present conditions for any human
beings to have existed in many places where we find
the greatest number of ruins. The springs have all
dried up at least they do not low during the summer
months for there have been springs or wells in
those days the socaed tributaries Of the San Juan
west Of Colorado, have never been constant streams;
for the country through which these aroyas cut is
comparatively level and contains mountains
whose snowy tops would alone in the alb
sence Of all rain supply the water for regular
flow. 1t is only at long intervals that food, caused
by cloud burst, rushes down these channels and at
such times it would be likely to tear away everything in
its reach and overflow all the valleys along its course.
The McElmo, Montezuma and EPSON Creek in the
north, and the Rio de Chelly from the SOUTH
ply the dry channels of intermittent floods, although
sometimes in the winter the latter has constant
though slight flow for a few weeks.
Passing down the north side of the river the
third day brought to spot showing many indica-
tions Of large structures which had become almost
entirely obliterated Here we found somo handsome
specimens Of broken pottery and about twenty stone
axes, entire and others damaged This seemed to
have been place where these tools had been manu-
actured for they abounded in great numbers along the
hillside below the But they were all rudely
made Consisting merely Of the long, fat cobblestones
Of the river which had been Clipped the edges
end to admit of a withe handle Two very
highly and beautifully polished stone knives however
six eight inches in length, were picked up
here.
Advancing further west TO where the Rio de Chelly
enters from the south, we succeeded in finding ford
and taking the train across camped and remained
another day TO make a short trip
DOWN THE CANYON OF THE SAN JUAN
which is at this point Starting early in the morn.
ing three of US, with pack mule laden with photo
graphic outfit entered the canyon and pushed down
along its banks for three four miles The stream
here penerates the red sandstones, which the
whole surface Of the country and winds and twists in
every direction doubling upon itself and flowing at
or tlo
complish mile it flows three. The walls seem to be
down perpendcuIarly from the level OF the mesa
900 feet and in the forty miles which the canyon
before joining that of the Colorado there s per-
haps, not place through which could ascend
descend the cliffs. The bottom Of the canyon for
distance down Is passabe, although it presents
some very difficult travelling the piles Of rock and
along the quicksand banks. From 200 yards the
waters OF the river contract in places 70 scarce
twenty and therefore, must be very deep We took
good views up and down the canyon and returned
TO camp, arriving at the sensible conclusion that IL
would not be advisable to attempt to take pack train
TO the Colorado least by this route In the after
repaired across the hills southwark a mile or
two to locality which abounds in beautiful specimens
of sliched wood and rubes garnets The former oc
In great quantities Of every color vorgng into the
agate and chacedony formations Of the most beautiful
transparent colors Of pink red and yellow The gar
nets as large as grain Of large shot, scattered
numerously over the ant hills where they had been
thrown up by the busy little proprietors We were
now in Arizona, with prospect ahead Of two weeks
travel through sandy desert, hot country with
water save what might accidentally strike One
last farewell plunge in the muddy waters OF the
San Juan then Ill up every water bag and vessel and
start the scorching plains Of sand trusting
Providence for our future provision and happy issue
out Of all our undertakings
RIO CHELLY, NAVAJO Corn FIELDS,
NORTHEAsTERN ARIZONA, August 10, 1915 !
The weather was now so hot that we derived no
pleasure from travelling, and the shade Of any
trees that could nnd camps seemed sultry
and almost unbearable Tho nights so uncom-