The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-05-07
Los MUFETOS.
Interesting Ruins in Arizona of a City
Three Miles Square.

The ancient city with the modern Span
ish name Of Los Muertos was located
On an elevated mesa. or rather in An eN-
tended valley, seven or eight miles from
the junction Of the two large rivers
Salt and ella. and about five miles from
the present city of Phoenix. The loca-
ton was undoubtedly chosen on ac-
count of the superior fertility OF the SOL
end the adaptabiiity Of the land 10 lrrl-
cation. Water was taken from the salt
river, six miles distant, and conducted
10 the ancient pueblo through open and
spacious bitches having an average fall
of seven feet TO the mile. From carefully
compiled estimates il is stated that fully
100000 acres Of land were thus brought
under cultivation In the immediate VI
cinity of Los Muertos.
The city itself is traced for dis-
lance of three miles down The valley
and is almost square in size. The streets
are narrow and frequently interrupted
bv rectangular squares or plaZas. On the
four corners which face these squares
the buildings were much larger, running
TO five stories in height and a proportion
ate thickness Of wall. Mr.. Gushing, VINO
conducted these explorations on behat
OF the Government, suggests that these
edihces were in all probability fortihca-
iAa'---+'~-
scribed to effectually guard the main
thoroughfares from invaders.
The entire city was encircled by a y
stantial wall twelve feet thick and prob
ably twenty feet in height, and on the
walls were erected small towers from
which coign of vantage the aborigi-
nal sentinels might WATCH over the
welfare and peace Of the city. En-
brasures were cut in the walls six feet
from the ground, probably for egress ana
ingress. as the weapons OF defense IN
those days were not adaptable 10 shoot
ing through portfolios. The warrior of
this period was armed with the stone
axe made of polished granite or spe-
cies of meteorite, and formidable wea-
pons they II ade. Then there was KIND
of sling, such as was used IN the MS
toric duel between DAVID and Goliath.
The bow and arrow were a later inven-
ton but long spears made OF ironwood,
buckthorn, mesquite and other native
woods and tipped with sharp fiints, were
a common weapon. Whoever the people
here were they belonged "a the stone
age Not trace OF metal has ever been
found. The little ornaments and gew-
gaws that the Indian mothers loved TO
wear and bedeck their infants with were
invariably bright shells brought from the
sea, or polished stones Of varied colors.
Large quantities of these are found,
such as turquoise, ruby, and mother or
pearl. in the shape Of neck amulets or
wristlets BY the modern Indians they
are looked upon as possessing superna-
tural powers-to heal the sick ana pro-
tect the wearer in battle or from the
| bites Of venomous reptiles.
The extensive irrigating bitches were all
dug with stone implements, and the
| huge rafters in their lofty buildings were
"chewed" off with the Same rude tools.
| 1t must have taken years Of incessant
toll and a patience beyond the endurance
of Job to complete the work these people
accomplished with the crude means at
hand.
That they were a pastoral people Is
certain. out I'm their fields grew the
| pumpkin, and cotton, flax, tobacco, a
| species Of potato barley and corn. OF
domesticated animals they had the COW.
sheep, dog and turkey. They were not
given much to carnivorousness. The
| meal of their corn or barley or the wild
| acorn was mere toothsome, baked into
| cakes than the flesh OF animals. III .
| not positively known that they ate meat
| at all The Cohuilla Indians OF this day
are very careful about eating flesh. They
| believe in the transmigration OF souls
into the animals about them. Ii may
| be the residents of Los MUertos were
| Observation-Disclosures. That would account
for the scarcity Of animal bones discOv-
cred No evidence has been found that
they lived upon other food than cereals.
oysters fish and fruits.
All the evidence brought 10 light leaves
no doubt that this prehistoric city was
destroyed by the earthquakes. Indeed,
| there are surface evidences all over this
seton of mighty seismic disturbances at
| no later date than 1000 or 100 years
| ago. In making the excavations in the
\ canals many OF them were found hlled
| with lava, end within the city were nu-
| merous signs Of hasty exit. one skele-
ton was caught by a falling wall while
| the person in life was evidently in the
! act of running from the danger. Cloths
| for wear still stood unfinished in the
| loom and, in some instances, the ca
tastrophe had overtaken these people at
| their meals, as cooking utensils were
| found over the Goals long since smod-
cred
II does nor appear that everything was
annihilated by the first onslaught of the
| earthouake. but after the warning those
who were not killed outright evidently
departed with proper haste. That haste
was shown is evlnced in the fact that
| many articles of prehistoric wear gaudy
| ornaments OF dusky maidens, weapons OF
war. and pieces for playing games. DO
nestle utensils, and hundred little
things which went TO make up the lares
and penates of the aboriginal home were
found cast about in hurried confusion.
Standing in the ruins of this once con-
siderable city one is apt TO be lost In
wonderment as TO who its people were
and when they met their untimely fate:
Perhaps along the narrow laoyrintns OF
adobe homes, when prosperity looked