The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-03-26
TRAVELS IN "WONDER-
LAND"
The Canyon Chiefly.
And Writing on the Wall.
BY PLUS ULTRA.

About twenty-five miles below
the Crescent Fortress $50 named by
our parity the river makes a sharp
bend to the southwark and pIunges
into the canyon. This caYernous-
like canyon continues, with the eX-
ceptiOn of a small valley at the
mouth of the Auqa Frisco, until it
reaches the great canyon Of the
Colorado. AT the point where the
river enters the canyon we started
across the country, aiming to pass
to the eastwood of the Canyon Chiefly
and thus reach the Mesa Calabasa,
through which ethere is a trail rum
ming to the Sierra Del Nauajo. The
first day, "all went merry as mar
riage bell" the land we were travel
ing over being succession of ben
cheS, rising from the San Juan
River, until they finally reach and
merge into those vast steppes or
treeless table lands which lie be-
tween the Sierra Carrisco and the
Mesa Calabasa. Elated at having
left the gloomy canyons behind us
we bowled along right merrily, and
at night made our camp at some
water holeS,-in the vernacular of
the country, water pockets
about thirty miles distant from the
point Of departure in the morning.
The following day our troubles be-
gan. There is an old Arabic prov
erb: Laugh not; AZieal stands at
your elbow" which might be rem
dered lE our caSe,-dOn't eXult too
soon; there is a canyon ahead. The
country ahead of us appeared
unbroken and regular, but
about 10 o'clock we came
to the brink of a frightful abyss,
canyon several hundred feet in
depth, with perpendicular walls,
which cuts the plain from east to
west, a tributary or lateral branch
of the Canyon Chiefly. We turned
westward and followed the course of
the canyon, hoping to find break in
the wall which would at least per-
NIT of our descending into the can
yon. Alas! for our hopes. They
were destined, like Jonah's shade
tree, to flourish for a short time and
De blasted and wither in an hour.
Night overlook us without water
or either man or beast. Although by
looking down into the canyon we
could see the stream like a thread of |
silver at the bottom of the abyss, it |
vas unapprOachable. AS the moon
eSS SKY was overcast with clouds. !
md the night promised to be eX-
dark, we abandoned ali |
thoughts of seeking further for
water, hoppled our horses and |
ought in fitful slumber a relief |
rom thirst and hunger. The fol |
owing morning we were on the |
move at daybreak, and about noon
we're fortunate enough to find our
way into a side canyon which, by
a few miles, led us into
he main canyon and to water. We
ollowed this lateral branch until we
cached the main Canyon Chelly,
lown which we Travelled some dis
ance until we reached sort of
owe or small valley, hemmed
II on three sides by high
walls, the southwest
vail being broken into series of
mall, rugged hills, which gave pro-
Mise of an easy passage III the di-
ection we wished to go. Along a
helf on the northwest side of the
owe were several ancient buildings.
much the same in their cOnstruc-
ion and general appearance as
hose described in a former article.
The point Of interest in this case
vas the smooth, perpendicular walls
n the east side of the canyon or
owe. The wall is literally covered
or fifty feet in height, and, at least
n one place, twenty-five yards in
ength, with ancient writings.
livery conceivable form and posi-
ion of men and beast is here repre-
ented, and long lines of cuniform
haracters, some upright with the
ONT downward, some point up
Yard, others again horizontal In
heir position, singly or in groups.
ne whole mingled with representa- {
ions Of birds, beasts and trees. The
aces of men were common. some !
them with the bodies of reptiles ,
nd beasts. One popularity. as diff 9
9rlng from any we had heretofore +.
cen in these writings, is that some
the work is done with red paint
ut by far the greater Dor :
on has been engraved with
sharp pointed Instrument in the 6
did rock. This engrave! work was t
one prior to Tie painting, as we {
Ound where the painting had in t
ne or two places covered part of I
ne engraved work. One very SIN G
ular piece of engraving we noticed t
lat o. a box with handles like a i
alanquin, with long pendant tas-
lis, and the figure of a circle about 7
'ur inches in diameter. with a q
ngle bar across it. This was en- 4
'aYen on the side Of the box. This 8,
ngular engraving was preceded =
Id followed by the figures of men y
'otesque and peculiar in their sew, z
al positions. Here, too, was the I
APE OF human hands, eight in a
w, no two of the same size or ex-
lily the same shape, and instead Of
ing IN pairs, the right hand and
II, they all represented the riGht
md. III
We spent many hours rambling
and down the canyon, examin7
g and comparing these WRITINGS
q figures, and in takinor oo,.:-oe