The record-union., 1897-10-18
THE MESA ENCANTADA.
Statement of Prof. VIM. Libbey Of
Princeton University.

The main point in the discussion of
the verify of the myth in connection
with this famous rock seems to have
been left out of account.
After scaling the Mesa last July l
stated that to my mind it had not been
inhabited. Mr.. Hodges party went to
the top in September, and finding GER
tain relics, maintained that it had been
inhabited. It seems to me, great deal
depends upon what is meant by the
word inhabited. A temporary visit can
not in any sense constitute such posi-
ton a permanent residence. The calrn-
like pile of rocks, which / am glad Mr..
Hodge so clearly decides is cairn, is
possibly the best proof of mere visit,
for even primitive people are not given
to building cairns in their back yards.
They construct them to commemorate
some visit or feat, and such monument
| believe this one to be; but my travels
in the West and Southwest for more
than twenty years, have taught me eau
ton since l have found many similar
piles in that region which were due only
to erosion.
IF a village or permanent residence
had ever existed on the top of the Mesa,
all traces of it have been completely OBJ
literated," was the answer given by Mr..
Hodge to an intelligent citizen of that
part of the country, to direct ques-
ton upon this subject, shortly after his
climb If so, why try to construct a
technical proof of inhabitation, based
upon the finding of a few relics | am
sorry that Mr.. Hodge has not made any
statement over his own signature, for
| cannot impute to him the ideas ad-
vanced by some of his friends, who have
appeared in print to attack us, as for ex-
ample: In the early summer 1T was
stated that two years ago he had tried
II make the ascent, but was unsuccess-
full because of the precipitous charac-
ter of the rocks, which seems quite rea-
SC nable, in view of even his experience
this summer. But it is now stated that
he refrained from going TO the top of
Il at time out of regard for the supersti-
tions of the Acomas. 1t appears. how
ever. according to one friend, that after
nv atrocious attack upon their myth
the Acomas were only too glad to have
him go to the top, because he could give
an authoritative opinion upon the sub
iect. According to another friend some
of these same AcomaS appeared upon
the top of the rock while he was there
by using his ladders, and were quite
enimical at first, but were soothed by
coffee and other agencies.
Strangely enough, most of the things
were found after these men had been
allowed to wander about upon the top
of the rock / sincerely hope that some
safeguard was taken to prevent their
throwing suspicion upon the various
finds: but from the reports 1T seems
such was not the case, since they were
allowed to find things up there when
away from the white men. / cannot be-
lieve that an acute arehaeologist like
Mr. Hodge would tolerate such pro-
cedure 1t is also noteworthy that Mr..
Hodges friends do not mention the
finding of single relic by himself.
Mr.. Hodge does not appear TO nave
convinced several of the white citizens
of the region. who have held and now
hold positions of honor and trust in
these Pueblos. that the Mesa was ever
inhabited. Their opinions are certainly
worthy of some weight as evidence, and
v hen they describe the myth as pure
dream. after a residence of many years
in the country. / am inclined from the
facts which | was able to observe upon
the top of the Mesa still to believe that
while the top may have been visited. no
evidence exists at present of its ever
having been permanently Inhabited.