The Red Cloud chief., 1880-04-08

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CANYON of Mouiezuma. as promised IN
INV last letter. Tho Moniezuma Valley
is located in LAT. 81 deg. 80 min run
ming east and west, and extending
north as far as - deg, embracing an
area Of about go square msiles@a por-
ton of which is undnlating, covered
with pinon, cedar. chaparral and sage
brush, through and among which IL
found a luxuriant growth OF nutritious
bunch grass, sffcrding ample food for
stock; a scarcity of water in some
places is the principal drawback, how
ever. The drainage OF the valley hnds
its way through numerous CANYONS or
gorges, vary ing from 100 10 Loo feet
in height, and all conyerging into one
grand CANYON or outlet, with a. average
width Of onc-half to three-quarters of q
mile, bordered upon each eide with
high, PERCEPTIONS bluffs Of red sand
stone. worn smooth by the action OF he
elements. Here are deep caverns
OF washed out Of the sandstone, some of
which arc half as large a. the dome on
your Capitol, and somewhat similar IN
shape. These caverns or hollow places
we're utilized by a former race OF peo-
pie, rs their present appearance PLAINLY
indicates, having been walled up with
laid in mud, which is now very
hard and uny ielding.
The "cliff houses" as they are
called. are rs varied in their construe-
ton as the localities in which they are
situated, no two being precisely alike,
but all affording a certain amount Oh
protection in ease of assault or INVASION
from an enemy.
MANY of these cliff houses are now
difficult of access, the steps cut IN the
sandstone having partially worn away
or Welded to the subtle attacks OF time
Yet there are none so difficult OF access
that our curiosity will permit us to pass
them without notice, and careful exam
nation. Consequently, We have To avail
ourselves of the limited facilities AT com
mand, and, with the aid of ropes and
other improvised tackle, we Chamber up,
and sometimes lower ourselves down
from the summit Of the bluffs TO them.
Our perseverance is not generally re-
warded, however, by the discovery o
many relics and remains. A few mt
arrow-hcads and pieces OF broken pot
terry constitute about all we have yet
discovered which tends Ia throw any
light upon the occupants OF these strange
places of abode. How long they resided
here, or what ultimately became OF them.
are matters subject To conjecture ana
speculation. The masonry IN some OF
the houses exhibits considerable skill
and ingenuity in construction the walls
vary very little from Il perfect vertical
or perpendicular position, and are either
straight or circular, according To the To-
cation. The stones in many places still
exhibit the marks of tools and present
the appearance of having been highly
polished, their exposed surface beng
nearly as smooth rs dressed marble.
There is generanlly but n aperture or
opening, fronting or facing the canyon,
but there are passages from n room TO
another ON the inside.
The cliff houses were not the only
places of abode of this people, butthere
are other remains of their habitations
scattered over a large tract of country,
generally in the most commanding and
CONSPICUOUS positions. All that is now
left are the faint outlines of their build
ings and Enclosures. and mounds OF
stone and earth. We have dug into
several places which we supposed were
graves. but could discover nothing cN-
cent a strata or deposit of charcoal
about an inch thick in each, and we Ar-
rived AT the conclusion that they Gre
mated their dead.
Who this former ace of people were,
or what became of them, are questions
more easily propounded than salts,
f~actorily answered. They are probably
some of the descendants of the Aztec
race, under the leadership of Montezu'
ma, their chief. who was put 10 death
by the Spaniards AT the time of the con
quest of Mexico.
The P~ueblos-a race of Indians now
residing in New Mexico-still entertain
the belief that MonteZuma will return
and il is their custom to ascend theli
house tops TO gaze upon the morning
sun, in the hope of witnessing their CHIEF
and leader ut Its rising.
There are none of them, however
with whom | have conversed who have
anv record, history or knowledge of the
race of people who formerly inhabited
this locality.
On the smooth walls of the canyon,
in some places, are a series OF hero
Clyphics, representing pictures OF
| beasts, birds, reptiles, and also OF the
sun. Their pottery exhibits some skill
in its manufacture, showing a variety ol
designs, both in construction ant orna'
m~entation.
Siera-de-la-Utah, or Ute Mountain,
looms in grandeur high above the sur
roundings on the south side of the can
Won, from the summit OF which can b,
seer nearly the whole southwest por
ton of this State, besides affording al
extensive view of the adjoining Terrific
ries of New Mexico, Arizona and Utah
The mountain being covered with snow
we were unable to ascertain its form
alton, whether granite, slate or sandstone
or whether the indications were favor
able for mineral. The greater portion
of Southwestern Colorado is nov
claimed by a few Ute Indians, who lool
with jealous eve upon any intrusive pale
face who ventures within the limits q
his domain, for the purpose of hunting
prospecting, etc
A vigorous effort is nov being made
by our Senators and Representatives il
Congress and Governor to have allthes'
and all the Utes removed to some othe'
locality, which win be 4 very desirable
movement, and conducive to the vel
fare and rapid progress of our State
The Indians, as they have been recent
" managed, are a great hindrance u
the growth and development of thi
country, and the sooner they are ban
ished from sight the better. Their
always has been, and always viii be, al
"irrepressible conflict" between tn
white man and the Indian, so long a
they continue to live upon and occup,
the same soil.
We have had an abundance of snos
this winter, and our mail has to b
transported a portion of the distance Of
snow shoes. That you may be able 3
realize some of the Inconvenience un
der which we labor, / viii state that
have not received a copy of the STAT
Journal since last Gubernatoris
election! But next year we are TO hav
the "iron-horse," snow-plow and a
other modern appliances favorable TO