Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-03-10
The American Cnr.nu.Il.r..

[From the New York Tribune1
The Pueblo or village Indians are scattered
over an area in New Mexico and Arizona
stretching from Taos, on the Rio Grande
south to Yslete Of Ell Paso distance of about
800 miles, and in width about 400 miles
Within this area there are now about "a in
habited villages. There are also the ruins of
thousands of ancient villages and towns situ-
ated in the valleys of the streams, on the sum
mits of the mesas, and many high up in the
sides of the cliffs and the walls of canons be-
ing carved out like swallows nests. The ruins
already known are sufficient in number to fur
nish 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.. Stevenson, which
must have been the abode Of at least 100, 900
souls. Mr. Stevenson first heard of it from
an old Indian chief. with whom he sat chat
ting in Spanish one evening. The old man
was apparently somewhat disinclined to be
communicative, but finally, as If to avoid
further inquiry, he said
"You wish to find old houses do you
Well, | will show you some. They are about
twelve miles from here"
Mounted upon mules, the two started out
and made their way toward range of distant
hills, from behind which lowered an extinct
volcano. As they approached the foothills,
MI ottNNhoOh bhW BS hulhDtlb VI bAhOh
spots in rows, resembling swallows nests, up
on the face of cliff. He asked his compan-
ion what they were.
Houses" was the reply.
mo, not those on the top" said Mr.. Ste
venson; 81 mean the black spots on the
| cliff"
Houses" said the old chief; houses, 1 tell
you-very old houses"
The old man told the truth. For 60 miles
along the face of the winding cliff, except
where the elements had cut them away, these
ancient cave dwellings extended-two, three,
four, and sometimes five rows, one upon an
other. Mr.. Stevenson examined this deserted
city for several days, personally visiting por-
tions distant 40 miles from each other, and
discovering with his glass that the excavations
| extended 10 or 20 miles further on. By far
| the greater number are inaccessible, but some
| of the old paths worn many inches deep by
| the feet of the ancients who dwelt there, are
intact, and by them the explorer mounted to
the old dwellings. Upon the top of the mesa
or table-land above these caves were found
large circular structures, now in ruins, but
with walls to the height of 10 or u feet still
standing. They were evidently places Of
| worship. They we're built of square stones
of nearly uniform size about 20 inches long
| by six wde and four feet thick, cut from the
| cliff. Measurements of two of these struc-
lures were made, one of which was 100 and
the other 200 feet in diameter, and might have
held from 1000 tS0OO people. The infer
ence that these were places of worship il
drawn from the fact that the Pueblos of the
present day, who are fire and sun worshipers,
have similar temples The great age of this
city is proved by the vast accumulation of de-
bris from the upper portion of the cliff, which
covers its base. In places where mountain
brooks have cut their way through, the exist
ence of one and sometimes two rows of cave
dwellings below the surface of the debris il
disclosed Mr.. Stevenson thinks that severa
centuries have passed since this dead city wa
| in its nrirna