The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-10
THE MESA ENCANTAnA.
Prof. Libbey of Princeton Telt Why
He Doesn't Think 1t Was Inhabited.


in connection with this famous rock seems
to have been left out of account.
After scaling the Mesa last July I stat
ed that to my mind it had not been in
habited. Mr.. Hodges party went to the
top in September, and, finding certain rel
les, maintained that it had been inhabit-
ed. 1t seems to me- great deal depends
upon what is meant by the word inhab-
tied. a temporary visit cannot in any
sense constitute such a position a perma-
nent residence. The cairn-lils pile of
rocks, which I am glad Mr.. Hodge so
clearly decides is a cairn, is possibly the
best proof of mere visit. for even prim-
tive people are not given to building
cairns in their back yards. They con-
struct them to commemorate some visit
or feat, and such a monument 1 believe
this one to be; but my travels in the west
and southwest for more than twenty
years have taught me caution, since
have found many similar piles in that re-
gion 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 obliter-
ated;" was the answer given by Mr..
Hodge to an intelligent citizen of that
part of the country. to a direct question
upon this subject, shortly after his climb.
If so, why try to construct a technical
proof of inhabitat ton, based upon the find
ing of few relics. l am sorry that Mr..
Hodge has not made any statement over
his own signature, for I cannot impute to
him the ideas advanced by some of his
friends, who have appeared in print to at
tack US, as for example: In the. early
summer it was stated that two years ago
he had tried to make the ascent, but was
unsuccessful because of the precipitous
character of the rocks, which seems quite
reasonable, in view of even his experience
this summer. But it is now stated that
he refrained from going to the top at that
time out of regard for the superstitions
of the Acomas. 1t appears, however &C
cordng to one friend, that after my
atrocious attack upon their myth the
Acomas were only too glad to have him
20 to the top, because he could give an
authoritative opinion upon the subject
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 IOQIQ dIlEE lutob 4lICAA AciA OSCAA Ill
lowed to wander about upon the top of
the rock 1 sincerely hope that some
safeguard was taken to prevent their
throwing suspicion upon the various finds
but from the reports it seems such was
not the case, since they were allowed to
find things up there when away from the
white men. 1 cannot believe that an acute
archaeo.ogfst like Mr.. Hodge would toll
crate such a procedure. 1t is also note
IAIo Il oOt
mention the finding of a single relic by
himself.
Mr. Hodge does not appear to have con-
WINGED several of the white citizens of the
region, who have held and now hold posi-
tons of honor and trust in these Pueblos,
that the Mesa was ever Inhabited. Their
opinions are certainly worthy of some
weight as evidence, and when they de-
scribe the myth as pure dream, after
a residence of many years in the country,
1 am inclined from the facts which 1 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 perma-
nently inhabited.
The existence of that rat upon the top
of the rock seems to have troubled some
people; to me 1t is easily explained by the
existence of birds nests and eggs in abun-
dance upon the rocks.
My investigation has been criticised as
being too cursory to admit of it's being
thorough and that I was driven off by a
thunderstorm; but my critics seem to for
get that my apparatus was still in place
and in good order the next day, and moth
ing would have been easier than to have
gone up there again, if it were thought
either necessary or profitable. In view of
the main problem involved. e.. had it
been inhabited-I did not think it neces-
sa-y to go back again, as the surface of
the rock convinced me on this point
I picked up some fragments which re-
senbled ancient pottery, but could not
persuade myself that they we're. 1 took
them to Mr.. Pearce, and he agreed with
me that they were not pottery.
The shell bracelet might also be taken
as a proof of a comparatively recent visit.
for it certainly could not have withstood
the attacks OF the climate for any very
long period of time.
I also found several pieces of pottery
at the base of the Mesa, not only near
the amphitheater where Mr.. Hodge evil
IDENTIFY made his climb, but also at other
points around the base; but these only
indicated the possible visit either to the
top or the base of some of the natives
As such relics have been repeatedly found
in this position before, 1 did not think it
important enough to mention.
1t is hardly necessary, think, to state
that personal abuse does not enforce an
argument. but rather tends to weaken
the position of the man who makes use
of it. I am as anxious as any one to ar
rive at a serious and right-minded solution
of such problems; but I am wholly I'M
prepared to descend to bubble over
doubtful items. l am prepared at any
time to admit that l was wrong i'm nv
Interpretation of the facts I saw, IL sur
fcient and proper arguments are produced.
and 1 do not think it is asking too much
of those who oppose my opinions TO meet
me in the same fair spirits.
AS long as the main question is kent in
view-i. e., was the Mesa ever inhabited9
4 think am warranted in answering n
in the negative, for 1 have not vet seen
any proof which would establish any
thing more than the evidence of a temno-
rary visit. William Iibbey
Fire at Jasper, Fla.