The Newtown bee., 1904-03-18

a uniform yellowish gray, which went sliding along at our approach and h1d- ing among the bushes. One which started up almost under our horses feet, gave few notes wonderfully clear and sweet, before he slanted down into the nearest clump of bushes. There are no crows, properly speaking, but "ravens,'' which are ssjust the same, only different" namely, twice as large. Over one of the farthest peaks I saw huge bird which may have
 been a hawk, but suspect an eagle. The guide says that there is an occas- ional rattlesnake, but these are not
 plentiful. While our winter coats are fairly comfortable the weather is not
 cold. When we started out for our drive this morning noticed that the
 thermometer stood at 38 degrees
 above. In the sunshine it is much
 warmer.
 February 9, 1904. We have staid over one more day
 just as I told you last night that we thought of doing, and tomorrow we shall start for the Grand Canyon. Aft CT breakfast we started out for walk to the old Indian fort and the Hero glyphic Rocks, some pictures of which you will see in the circulars that sent
 with my letter yesterday. The land
 across to the foot of the mesa is as level as the house floor. It is some
 two to two and half miles.across. We
 started up seven rabbits, big gray fel- lows, six of which one could have cas- | fly got with gun, and three sat up | and looked at us, so as to have been pretty rifle shots. We saw more of
 the sparrow-like birds l spoke of yes terday, and a coyote. Just at the foot
 of the bluffs we scared up huge owl, | who flew a little ways and then lit, so
 that we could see him plainly with the
 naked eye, and the glass brought out every line and feather and marking.
 He was beauty, and when he flew he
 looked as though his wings were fully
 as long as those of the largest hen
 hawk It was a splendid tramp, and
 but for the mud we would have enjoyed
 every step of the way. When l say
 mud I don't mean anything like what
 I have always before called mud. This is a mixture of clay, glue and India
 ruber. It was not muddy in any ordi-
 nary acceptance of the term. The top
 was slightly moist, as it would be on frosty morning when the sun first
 struck the ground. But every scrap of
 that slightly moist" earth stuck to
 our shoes, and after quarter of amile I looked down to find that every step took was crowding the mud below up over the sides of my overshoes, till my shoes must have weighed at least pound. No amount of stamping or rubbing will take it off. A stick and many vigorous punches is required. When it once dries nothing can get it off. l don't wonder that the Indian and Mexican houses stand century when built of the stuff. I saw the children last night, after they came from school, sitting in the back door working away at their shoes with a knife, and they were saving away | much as l have seen blacksmith | work on horses hOof. Of the cliffs l and ruins there is not much to tell. | Along one of the bluffs for miles are | the queer Indian figures cut ip the | sandstone. We spent hours cliubinet about them. foIever finding some new
 i ;ture more curious than the last. The Ol fort is in a SOmeN hlt ruined | condi tion, and there have teet too many
 people there to have anything of any
 value there, but we foundAuite num-
 Der of broken pieces of old Indian pot
 tery. We have had a dylightful time here, and if had plent1 of money and