The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-06-08
LIVING CLIFF-DWELLERS.
Strange CommnaItirs #hfch st5il Ezis
IN ord sIrx5c7.


Frederick Schwatks iu the June Caatgrr.
a deep raYine cutting 5u II Tizi.t angles 90
tie Bacochic On ChIhuahua, Mtxtcoi, c'osed
our say TO the north aS we asceuIad the
winding trail, and wien we la worked
cur way up the steep bank soa.r 2o0 or 800
feet, a favorable exiJ from the Jew. scruUby
pines gave ma an opportunity 90 look
l-aight across thjs plc.uEe-gua r@vne,
md ! was surprised - 500. on
the other bank. which SEEMED gsa more
precipltous than the ere rE HH.c I stood,
a deep cave walled up ga Iroat acar-I 10 tna
top, and evidently Indicating c1Fc Dr cliff
dWe.laTs. Ny first eaoHZHt IS ti0t the
curious habjtati0n ia frGat o. Hr belonged
20 tie era Of similar tai dingS 81 ATiz9Da
and New Mexico, which the best al
th0Tity c0Bslgns to very 0.d period. " iii
me- however, was a Mexican gentleman vii
said that the cave was maab.tea, bHt rs
the occupants were extremely tlTif, probf-
bly We would not be able 30 see thPM with
out forcing an entrance into their strange
home. He believed IAat most nf Laem we're
inside peepiDg at n over the ride walls and
around tbs very dliapidaled animals hide
that served TO close tie door. The cave was
not owe 200 yards away, and. with the aid OF
our ield-glasses, we cUGld plainly make out
It's details.
Ny impressions led me to the theory that
these we're vagabOud individuals Of tie local
Indian tribes who were occupying this Old
cave-dwelling in the cliffs much rs we see
the corresponding class with Gs coca lOnally
occupying dugOutS, shaalleS bult into the
sidehils. and caves around the suburbs Of
towns But one of the AeXicans, y 30 argued
against fOrcible intrusion into the homes OF
these people. said that We would find
great mum Ger Of Them further on IN the
deep recesses of the Sierra MadTe Range,
and that among SO many we would have
good opportunities Of seeing them TO better
advantage than we possibly could here. Ny
Mexican friend was born and reared 10 this
part of chihuahua; his father and uncle
owned one Of the largest and richest mining
districts in that portion Of the Sierra
Madre toward which our course was
directed, and TO reach which he attached
himself TO our party for couple Of days,
when our paths separated. His business
called for almost constant travelling in
these parts He placed the number Of liY-
ing cliff and cave jewellers in this part Of
Mexico at from 5000 10 1900 persons. We
afterward saw from 800 10 500 Of them,
which, considering their great timdity and
the small part Of their la traYersed by Us,
would give an air OF TeasouaDleness TO the
estimate Of Don Augusta BcceTTa, for such
was my friends name
Even as We stood en- The Ell ye OF the cliff
opposite this singular home, we saw an In
dian in the canyon far below. lie appeared
10 be wearing only a breech-c!out OF animal
skins: he carried long bow and arrows.
He looked almost as dark Is a Guinea
napro as he skirUed the shadows OF the
canyon, and his hair was long. A Tattlng
Of the falling chips OF shale drew his at
tention to Us, " hen he at once skHlked be-
hind a big bowlder at the base OF the Gill,
and W. 81 ~ him no more