The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-21

months. The farms that those strange pre-
historic people titled for a livelihood were
searched out. the quarry from which they got
their building stone was found. and then a
long and careful exploration OF the interior OF
the homes was begun. The most remarkable
find in tho buildings was in what was the clff
dwellers' storehouse. or n sort oil armory or
council chamber. On the summit OF q
rocky eminence rising from the river bank
was found n flssure extending sixty or more
feet into the hillside. The entrance was mar
row, but the interior was quite large. Heaped
on the floor OF this cave we're 1871 bows and
arrows. Many Of the bows we're decorated
with lizards and snakes. painted in bright coll
ors that seemed to have kept all OF their original
freshness. There were also stone axes and
hammers. baskets and n variety of ornaments
of shell and stone. The articles in the cave
seemed to have been thrown In there in confu-
sion. as IL amid great haste and excitement.
In the middle Of this chamber was a perfect
globe. twelve inches in diameter. cut out OF
basalt. Twenty yards above the base OF tho
hill are tho remains of n wall. which also ap-
pears to have cncirclcd the hill originally. The
ground all round the base OF the hill is covered
with small broken stones. and there are many
indications that these stones we're thrown
from some primitive weapons. probably sings.
in defence Of the fortified hill.
half mile further south in the same canon
there were found five caves over 1000 feet
above the beu OF the cation. In each cave was
acommunal dwelling. the largest of the sort
that the explorers have seen in the region OF
elf dwellings. The largest was 20 by 1O7
feet and the smallest 3 by 10 feet. Many we're
Is by % feet. All tho roofs had fallen. and in
many places the upright walls had partly
crumbled away. but the parts standing in some
OF the caves indicated n height of three stories.
Some were only two stories and others but q
single story high. The dwellings, were divided
into rooms by stone and wood partitions. A
number OF the rooms were fairly we'll preserved
and had small loopho!e windows. but no outer
doors. The buildings were doubtless en-
tered originally by means OF ladders. which
were drawn in after the occupants. Tho
floors were OF cedar. each log as largo
round as a mans leg. the spaces filled
neatly by smaller poles and twigs. and COW
cred with a carpet Of cedar bark. The ends
Of the timber were bruised and frayed. as II sew
cred by a dull instrument. Close to one an
other more than twenty OF these cave dwellings
were found. The smaller houses were in a
more advanced state Of ruin. but all showed
that they were built as a place of refuge. where
it would seem this strange people passed years
of doubt and fear. threatened by famine within
and by cruel persecution and torture from a
besieging enemy without. Tho lower caves
were reached by climbing the projecting points
Of the bluffs. but the higher were reached only
by ladders and ropes after incalculable labor
and imminent risk OF being dashed to death
700 to 800 feet below.
A week before exploratory work here was
abandoned for the winter the expedition
found the finest mummy OF its collection in
one OF the larger caves along Santa Maria
Canon. The cave was protected by a wall
seven feet high Of boulders and adobe. and
how thp builIarS ever MANAGED tp GOT tharc
boulders that weigh fully ten tons each is a
problem that none Of the explorers could ex-
plain in spite of thorough investigation and
long study. There was nothing within the
cave to show how 1t had been used. No i'm
plements or articles OF domestic or other use
were found. and the explorers were about to
descend when one OF them remarked that he
believed he would see what was in a mound
OF sand near the rear OF the cave Pick and
shovel were brought. and n hard crust
nearly two feet thick was removed. Three feet
OF comparatively loose sand was next dug
away. when two immense slabs of granite, ly-
ing parallel and about three feet apart. were
uncovered. Here n perfectly preserved mummy
was found. The body was entirely inclosed in
a huge basket OF woven yucca fibre and was in
a sitting position. Over the head and shout
dcrs was a smaller basket-woven tray OF yucca
stems and fibre, ana the limbs. which were
"iu"h ~ III Nv tiuLh VI NIc boly uill
held there by cords. were covered with a Soc
ond tray. Beneath these and drawn closely
about the form was q woven robe or blanket of
yucca fibre. and alternate strands OF feathers
and mountain lion fur sewed to tho fibre
strands. Tho body. which Is In a wonderfully
natural state Of preservation. has the brown
parchment like look TO be expected. and is that
Of a man apparently about 80 years OF age.
When the remains we're raised and brought
to the sunshine the value Of the prize from a
scientific point OF view was the better realized.
Careful measurements were made and dozens
OF photographs from every position were
taken. The body is q feet and l inch long.
The Uranium is large and well developed
There is n broad forehead. a large chin, very
high cheek bones and deep eye sockets. The
remains Of what was a handsome head OF hair
were on the dried and drawn scalp. Through
the tightly drawn lips Is shown q row ri strong
teeth. Three pouches OF skin were found
buried with the body. The first contained q
quantity OF dried herbs. the nature Of which q
number Of scientific men and pharmacists
have been unable to decide. In the second
pouch was found u pipe the bow
OF onyx and stem of jet-handsomel
/, carved and polished. and showing unusual
skill and Intelligence in its maker. A smaller
pipe of wood. with a stem Of reed, was In the
, same pouch. In the third pouch was a charm
or amulet or highly polished wood. followed
and containing n fine substance like powdered
ashes and a lump or gummy material looking
much like the drlod Juice OF the poppy or some
similar plant. Nearer the feet Of this body was
found the dried carcass OF a wild turkey. from
which the feathers had been plucked and the
head removed, but IL had not been drawn. A
the bottom and on the sides OF the grave were
great quantities OF cedar bark. In which the
, body had been buried. aftor being swathed il
robes and covered with basket work.
Naturally the explorers searched that cave
through and through. Altogether. they
, were n week at it. for the place was 81
large and the dwellings so compactly bull
, that POO or 300 aborigines once lived there
On the day before last THANKSGIVING the mum,
mics of n family-a father. mother, a 1O-year.
! old girl and an infant boy-were found in cave
dwelling hall a mile UP Brca canon. TIL,
, burial had been made in the rocky walls OF the
, cave, and an immense amount OF labor was NJ
/ doubt expended in digging the sepuIchre will