Arizona weekly enterprise., 1890-05-31
c. L. Mosher in $. F Examiner.

Scientists.
 C. L. Mosher in $ F Examiner
 Four years ago the writer was one of a hunting party which made visit to Cataract creek in Northern Arizona. This stream Is a small tributary of the Colorado river, having it's source in the Bill Williams mountains, and flows through mighty though narrow gorge ranging from 900 to 5000 feet in depth, the walls of which are pre- cipitous and permissible of descent or ascent at but one point, where a perilous trail leads to the villages of Yava-Supai Indians. This tribe of Indians number about three hundred souls, and they are in no wise remark able from other families of the abo- riginal race, save in their isolated sit uation and peculiar place of abode. That their selection in this respect was vise is illustrated in the fact that the little valleys along the creek afford the most fertile garden spots, where peaches and berries, melons and vegetables are produced in rare abun- uuu NlIll lllJlC CACIllOng mullC in their sheltered and sequestered dell they enjoy perpetual summer and escape all the discomforts and distress ot the severe winters to which the less provident Indians of that region are exposed.
 Aside from the beautiful grandeur and massive magnificence of the sur rounding scenery there was but little attractiveness in the YavaSupais. Their architecture, habits and lack of industry did not present remarkable diversity from other Arizona Indians, and as they pursue a peaceful and pastoral life and are without warlike legend the little interest with which we at first regarded them was dispelled with the satiety of our curiosity. It was not long, therefore, before the proposal was made that we return to our camp on the plateau above.
 In the meantime l had been allured by the story of rich mineral deposit which one of the chiefs mar rated, and to which he offered to con duct us for a small pecuniary cOnsid- eration. So I at last told my com panions that would go alone with the Indian and rejoin them at our camp after concluding the investiga tions upon which I was bent.
 A trip of several miles over a rough and tortuous trail along the abrupt sides of the great precipices was neces- sary to reach the Indians mine, in which, as was quite natural to sup pose, I was doomed to bitter disap- pointment.
 After spending the night in the h. dian village I awoke the following morning before the Indians were stir ring. High up on the opposite wall of the great canyon the sun marked a perfect line on the dull, red sandstone an eagle sailing around in graceful curves seemed but flick on the clear, blue sky, while the dashing waters of the impetuous stream gave forth in peaceful harmony the choicest notes of Natures music. The unequaled grandeur of the landscape was inspir- ing, the atmosphere exhilarating, and | without disturbing the slumbers of my primitive hosts I shouldered my rifle and sauntered down the creek. A dim and evidently but little used path traversed the bluffs, and as 1t took g direction exactly opposite to thai which led 10 the falsely represented mine, I followed it, and in about if teen minutes came to very marrow passage-way between a projecting rec and the main wall of the chasm through which managed to squeeze with some difficulty. Here l found ; little wickiup in which an Indian va asleep-a delinquent sentinel HReon scious to duty-but as he did no awake 1 continued my walk. A shor distance further 1 rounded a point ant discovered that the trail diverged at right angle, following the precipices o another chasm, through which smaller stream, a tributary of Catarac creek, madly rushed. The trail be came even more RaFroW and as ] wen along crumbling sandstone was sen splashing into the waters hundreds C feet below. l walked mile or nor in this second canyon, and had passe a point where it narrowed to fe' wards. when the trail emerged into
 small valley similar to that in whic the Yava-Supai village was situated although somewhat wider. 1t Ina really less level land; but the prec pices were further apart, and the sol at considerable acclivity, extends some little distance up their sides.
 was surprised to see that this Ian was under high state of cultivation orchards and garden patches reacl ing the foot of the biaGs. In the eel
 ter of the valley was a single wickiuI
 the only sign of kabitation. Thes observations were hastily made, and
 yas about to proceed with my invest gatiops when interrupted in a mo
 peculiar and startling MqRRaF.
 A weird, unearthly, piercing ys . somewhat resembling the cry of u panther or the peculiar scream of
 fishhawk, resounded through the Ii
 tie glen, and from the foot of the blui
 on sither side came answer after a
 swer, ia the s4me distressing and te
 rifying vail. was fllad with drei
 and undefnable fear at these dslao . iacal sounds, and l took frmeT gra
 upon my rifle as l instinctively thre
 it down in position to defend myst
 from theunknown and unseen da
 gef w.th which felt assured l W
 threatened. At about the same
 stant my confusion and tFepidatl'
 were highly augmented by moat U
 usual apparition-the appearance
 three of the strangest and m z. grotesque forms of humanity the ey - of man ever rested upon, who emerg . from the wickiup and ran rapidly
 tEe apclivity, uttering at each step
 bound their gHpqtgral and disquieti
 cries. These pefsoEs-~lAF l rlgh U coniectured they were members oi {
 human family-were only about fl
 and half feet in height, and tn
 bodies, which had no other covert
 than a short girdle of goat hair arou
 the waist and falling over the hi
 exposed skin of milky whitness. St
 brlstling boards, which pFGtrnded fir
 the neck and under the chin, W I perfectly white, as was also the tn - growth of coarse hair that stood
 from their heads very much in
 same mslnaF as do the quills on