The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1876-03-04
TIE CLIFF DU'ELLERS.

pared his report, which will soon be pub
hshed. The Rio De Chiefly, for dis
tance of about thirty five miles above its
mouth. is so canyoued-and the wash for
the bed of the stream is perfectly dry
the greater portion of the year, cuts from
wall rock to wall-rock so frequently
that i; is impossible 10 travel up it, ex-
ccpt in the bed, and that is 50 tortuous
and rocky in places that it would be diff
fcult, if not impossible. Making de-
tour TO the right, the first opening into
the canyon WIS reached ten miles above.
In here an interesting and extensive ruin
was found which was - well preserved
that it seemed TO have been vacated less
than score of wears, so near like the
workmanship and manner of building of
the present Moquis, that it would not be
difficult To imagine them lurking among
the deserted rooms. This ruin was stu
aled in long cave-like bench or mesa,
running along the face of a perpendicular
bluff, some fifty feet above its basc, aud
total length of nearly three hundred
NdIuS 1HC tcNu N.io pUL
compactIy built, conforming to the reck
on which it WAS placed, the rooms ar
ranged in i single row most of the way,
but at either end punching up to two or
three deep. A ground plan shows sew
enty-ive rooms, with many little irregu-
lar "cubby holes" with total length of
54S feet A few yards further to the
right are half dozen detached build
ings. Cisterns and reservoirs yet re-
manned perfect enough to show their pur-
pose. In the center of the mass was
well preserved circular apartment little
below the general level ofthe others, that
was probably IN estuja. The great cor
rails were inside, between the houses and
the bluff. Digging beneath the debris
several pieces of finely preserved pottery
were found, the same finely ornamented,
and glazed ware, of which the fragments
are 50 universally scattered over the
whole country Beneath the center Of
the town there was found in one group
some whole jars of about two gallons Ca
capity each, OF the gray indented ware,
but they were too fragile too transport
upon pack mules. Besides the pottery,
many stone implements and arrow points
were unearthed. Another detour to the
right, this time over an elevated plateau
of white sandstone, across which were
driftcd great dunes of white sand,
brought the party TO the famous so-calIed
diamond fields of Arizona, about
which there was such an excitement in
1872.
Lingering on its bare red plain, upon
which the sun beat with redoubled in
tensity, only long enough TO gather
about a pint of garnets, which were of
excellent quality and very abundant,
camp was made at the foot of side cam
yon which came in from the west and
was known as the canyon BOnito Chi
quito. Another group of ruins occurred
here, no. in large but in scattered houses
up and down the De Chiefly and Bonito.
A marked feature was the great reser-
yeirs, in which there was, even now,
abundant and excellent water Two or
three miles below in the canyon of the
main stream was a well-preserved two
story house, standing upon bench elc-
waited fifty feet above the valley, and
overhung by Il great roof of rock
that efiectuallv shields it from the
storms. Near by was natural reservoir
filed with good water. Another five or
six miles and the canyon of Dc Chiefly
n,,apoI ant int, voIlcx,
10 three miles in width, and extending
up to the foot of the great canyon near
Fort Defiance. Twenty-Five to thirty
five miles above the Bonito are some pc
culiar table rocks and monuments that
form notable landmarks. The ruins are
now scarce, only Il few being met with,
in the caves at the side of the VALLEY.
The bottom lands bear the impress of
very numerous ruins, adobe very likely.
that are now almost entirely obliterated,
and would hardly be noticed were it not
for the broken pottery.
At the head of the valley of the De
Chiefly the trail turned off to the south
west just above the upper edge of the
Others, Mr.. Barber, and Lee the guide, f.
and sending the remainder of the train
back some fifty miles where there was |
suitable grazing, Mr.. jackson continued
over to the Moquis Pueblos, seventy-fiye
miles distant, with only the Photographic |
apparatus and supplies for five DAYS.
Tequa was reached by noon of the fol- |
lowing day. As these .Pueblos have been !
50 frequently described and illustrated. I
the party spent only two days and a half |
among the six most easlcrIy towns, viz
Tequa, Sc-chum-e-vay, Moqui, Moo
shar-neD, Shong-a-p abwe and She-paul-a-
wee. Photographs of each of these were
made, and numerous sketches, illustrate
ing their habits, dress and occupations,
collection of recent and ancient pottery
and tools, and other objects of interest.
were made. The comparison between
the workmanship OF northern town
builders and these Moquis was verv
much in favor of the former. The high
est perfection was reached in the cliff
houses of the Rio Naucos, where some of
The houses we're marvcls of finish and
durability; and then travelling towards
the Moquis, there is Il gradual merging
OF one style into the other, from the
neatly-cut rock and correct angle 10 the
con. parativeiy crude buildings now in
habitcd.
Retracing their steps to the San Juans
at the mouth the DE Chiefly, the party
now travelled toward the Sierra Abaio
up stream known as Epson creek, from
the water, which is found near its head,
tasting and operating like that of salt
The usual indefinite ruins which occur
"u the low lands continued up this val