The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1884-12-03

danger and fatigue, it is q laughable
sight to see n pcrson-some other person
make the ascent. One has to stride
over the f~issure, one foot on the right
hand side and the other OH the left, and
Mt the same time press the hands al
tcrnatcly against the rocks for support.
an Indian will throw live sheep around
his neck and go up quite rapidly with
out touching either hand to the rocks
but [ an satisfied | could never do it.
They told us Of n pathetic incident that
occurred on the outer stairway several
generations go. Several men started
up. each with a sheep on his back.
When nearly to the top the sheep car
ricd by the foremost man became rest
less. and the shepherd in trying to hold
it fast lost his footing, and in falling
swept his companions owe the prccipice,
and they all fell on the rocks at the foot
in Il ~lifclcss heap. The Indians have
carved n representation Of the accident
on a rock near where it occurred, which
scarcely serves to steady the nerves Of
those who go by that route.
The top Of the elevation is level, aud
contains an area Of sixty or seventy
acres. At one side stands the pueblo, a
blunt pyramid of adobe and stone, hon
cJcombcd with rooms, at the other the
Church and graveyard, and near the
centre n pond Of pure water thirty feet
in depth and several rod in extent. The
priest was made acquainted with the OBJ
icct of our visit, and the ringing of the
Church bell brought the inhabitants of
the village around us. When they un-
dcrstood that the title to their lands was
in question and we had come to take tcs-
timony they showed great interest, and
discussed the various points involved
will remarkable intelligence, consider
ing their limited opportunity for a
knowledge OF law. As nightfall came
on n number Of the men who had been
at work in the valley came up, bringing
delicious peaches and grapes, which We
were glad to accept in view Of the
mcaSrc preparations for supper. We
slept in the Church., wrapped up in Il
Navajo blankets and never felt more Sc
cure or happier in our lives. When the
gray dawn pccrcd through the little
mica window-pancS it revealed great roof
beams more than 4 foot in dian. ctcr and
30 or 40 feet long, and through the open
tower a bell that was cast in ITO. How
these immense timbers and this bell
were brought up to the top of this cliff
no one living knows. The Indians
shake their heads and the priest shakes
his, but no II ventures an %opinion.
The timbcrs arc there, however. as wit
ncsscs, and morning and night, as the
seasons come and go and generations
pass away. the bell speaks for itself in
the ~silvcry tones that pleased it's founder
in far-otf Spain when King George was
on the throne. The adohcS-or the
earth Of which they were ma!c-wcre
brought up from the valley also. FOR the
wy VI VIC tl'c "uS u oaiu TnCk iii inc
beginning. And the earth for the graves
came the same way, requiring forty
years, the priest said. to complete the
graveyard. 1t is the only completed
graveyard have ever seen. The old
priest seemed very happy in the charge
Of his flock and his flock seemed happy
in possession Of him.
When the time for our departure came
there. was handshaAing and handshak-
ing, and a gracious blessing from the old
man and a message to Father Dc Fouri,
and we climbed down from the city in
the mir and rode back in silence to the
railroad.