Arizona silver belt., 1900-05-10
Ancient and Modern. lnves- tigations of Dr, J. Wal
 ter Fulles in Arizona.
WORSHIP OF THE GREAT SNAKE
Dr. Fukes Asserts the Ruins in Ari zona Are Not Aztec, but Mark the Successive Residences of
 the Ancient Moquis.

says the Flagstaff Sun, by Dr. J. Wal ter Fukes, who delivered an interest ing talk on the "Moqui Indians, An. cient and Modern
 Dr. Fukes is connected with the bu- reau of ethnology of the Smithsonian institute, Washington, D. O., and has passed the last ten years in the study of the life and customs of the Moqul Indians. He has specially stndied the religious ceremonies of this interesting tribe. The Moquis are essentially sun and rain worshippers-they being an agricultural people and those two ele- ments beind absolutely necessary for their prosperity. The snake dance, we'll known to the world, Is prayer for ram, but Dr. Fukes states that that ceremony, though startling, IS only an item among the other cerem mes of the tribe. One of these he dwelt upon at length, the worship of the Great Snake which occurs at the winter sol stice. The Indians noticing the grad ual increase in the distance of the sun
 believe the Great Snake Is responsible for it, and in order to placate the ser pent and bring warmer weather an elaborate ceremony Is gone through, The prayer always has the desired eff feet. The speaker also explained sew eral of the traditions of the tribe.
 During the stay of Dr. Fukes ID this vicinity, he, Tn company with B. F. !. Douey and Photographer Randall, vls- ited the numerous ruins northeast of Flagstaff. Three groups were inspect ed, one 30 miles, another 35 miles, and the third 40 miles from the city. The first one, 80 miles northeast, consists of about 20 ruins within radius of a mile. Some oi the buildings are ln good state of preservation, and one which stands on butte of malpais,
 was evidently used as n fort for the protection of the pueblos. Another ruin in this group contains ten rooms and is in good state of preservation.
 The second village, five miles fur. ther on, is quite extensive and shows signs of long occupation. It had population of over 200, being aboat the size of the present town of Walpi. Dr. Fukes believes it was abandoned between two md three hundred years. Mir. Doney has msde a number of ex- cayatlons in these ruins and has been rewarded by finding many articles dear to the collector. 1t was here he discovered the dessicated body of child wrapped in cotton cloth. and in grave copper bell was unearthed. Fms pueblo has all the signs of nasty abandonment. In making the floors of these buildings the Indians first placed logs of tlmbers across from wall to wall, then crossed the logs with brush and grass, covering all with layer of clay. When forced to migrate to treeless country these timbers were removed from the building and carried to the new site and placed in position. In this ruin all the logs are m position, and only the ravages of time have affected them, thus proving to the investigating mind that for some reason the inhabitants were forced to depart in such haste that they could not follow their usual custom.
 The third ruin is located five miles further on and about the same distance from the Black falls of the Little Colo rado river Its walls are about twenty five feet high and 1t IS one of the best examples of pueblo dwellings in point of preservation and architecture in northern Arizona. The group is situ- ated on an isolated mesa, about 150 feet long by thirty wide, and is sur rounded by an outer wall or stockade which follows the lines of the rock upon which the village stands. The houses are two and three stories high Dr. Fukes, after a short search, was rewarded by finding Il pair of mosaic ear pendants, worked in turquoise, similar to the ornaments now worn by the Moquis
 The professor claims that these ruins were not simultaneously inhabited, but were the successive residences of tribe of Indians, the ancestors of the present Moquis. He distinctly states that they were not the work of the Az tees or Toltecs. They are traced through the southern portion of the territory from Casa Grande, Monte zuma's castle, the Verde country, Wal nut canyon, the local cave dwellings and further north, The dwelling sites were selected with view to security from enemies, nearness to water and agricultural advantages. The same people occupied the Walnut canyon cliff dwellings. This is shown by numerous articles they have left be- hind them The pottery is the same; the picture writings on the rocks are similar in every instance. The manner of building varies only in the material at hand. Cotton was grown by all, as cloth made from that fabric and seeds of the plant are found in the ruins. In fact the Moquis raised cotton until about ten years ago. but being able to buy the cloth from traders cheaper than they could manufacture it. they have allowed that crop to be neglected.
 This is the first visit of scientific man to these ruins, and Photographer Randall has secured many fine views rrb brob ara fo Ia inoorpnrotaI in nr