Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-03-29

IHE AMERICAN CIIFF-DWELLERS. .--Tht
Pueblo or village Indians are scattered
over an area in New Mexico and Arizona
stretching from Taos. on tho Rio Graude,
south to Ysleta Of El paso, a distance oi
about 500 miles, and ia width abou. 400
miles. Within this area there are now
about thirty.four inhabited Villages. There
are also the ruins of thousands of ancient
villages and towns situated in the valleys
of the streams, on the SUBMITS OF the
mesas, and many high up in the sides OF
the cliffs and the walls of canons, being
carved out like swallows nests. The ruins
already known are sufficient in number TO
furnish homes for at least half million
persons, and were probably occupied by
twice that number. One noted instance
Of a carved-out city is mentioned by Mr..
Stephenson, which must have been the
abode of at least 100, 900 souls. Mr.. Stew.
ensou first heard Of it from an old Indian
chief. with whom he sat chatting in Span.
ish ono evening. The old man was appar-
emily somewha. dlsnelned 10 be commu.
NEGATIVE, but finally, as IF to avoid further
inquiry, he said:
You wish TO find old houses, do you?
Well, I will show you some. They are
about twelve miles from here"
Mounted upon mules, tho two started
out and made their way toward a range Of
distant hills. from behind which lowered
an extinct volcano. As they approached
the foothills. Mr.. Stevenson saw large
numbers of black spotsin rows, resembling
swallows nests upon the face of the cliff
He asked his companion what they were
Houses" was the reply"
"No, not those on the top" said Mr.
Stevenson; Il mean the black spots on the
cliff"
Houses" said tho old chief houses
tell you-very old houses"
The old man told the truth. For sixty
miles along the face of the winding cliff, ex
! cept where the elements hadcu them away
these ancient oavc-dwellings extended =
two, three, four, and sometimes five rows
one upon another. Mr.. Stevenson exam
ined this deserted city for several days
personally visiting portions distant forty.
five miles from each other. and discovering
with his glass that tho excavations extend
ed fifteen or twenty miles further on. BY
far the greater number are inaccessible
but some of the paths, worn many inches
deep by the feet of the ancleuts who dwell
there, are intact, and by them the explorer
mounted TO the old dwellings. Upon thu
top Of tho mesa Or table-land above thes,
caves were found large circular structures
now in ruins. but with walls to tho heigh
of ten to twelve feet still standing. The,
were evidently places of worship. The!
wers built Of square stones Of nearly uni
form size, about twenty inches long b,
six wide, and four feet thick, cut from tn,
cliff. Measurements of two Of these struc
lures were msde,o of which was 100 AM
the other 200 feet in diameter, and nigh
have held from 1000 to2000 people. The in
ference that these were places of worshi
is drawn from the fact that the Paeblos o
the present day, who are fire and sui
worshipers, have similar temples. Tb
great age Of this city is proved by the vas
accumulation of debris from the uppe
portion Of the cliff, which covers Its base
In places where mountain brooks have Gu
their way through, the existence of on
and sometimes two rows of cave dwelling
below the surface Of the debris is dis
closed. Mr.. Stevenson thinks that severa
centuries have passed since this dead cit
was in its prlme.-NeU York 1ritHne.