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Show " 68 JDXPLOHATION OF TDE OAROMS OF TDE C<?LORADO. down through a very narrow canon, and beyond it, to t.be southwest, there is a long line of cliffs, with a broad terrace, or bench, between it and the brink of the canon, and beyond these cliffs is situated the range of mountains seen as we came down Narrow Canon. Looking up the Colorado, the chasm through which it nms can be seen, but we cannot look down on its waters. The whole counti·y is a region of naked rock, of many colors, with cliffs and buttes about us, and towering mountains in the distance. July 29.-We enter a cafion to-day, with low, red walls. A short distance below its head we discover the ruins of an old building, on the left wall. There is a narrow plain betwoon tho river and the wall just here, and on the brink of a rock two hundred feet high stands this old house. Its walls are of stone, laid in mortar, with much regularity. It was probably built three stories high; the lower story is yet almost intact; the second is much broken down, and scarcely anything is left of the third. Great quantities of flint chips are found on the rocks near by, and many arrow heads, some perfect, others broken; and fragments of pottery are strewn about in great profusion. On the face of tho cliff, under the building, and along down tho river, for two or tlu·eo hundred yards, there arc many etchings. Two hours are given to tho examination of these interesting ruins, then we run down fifteen miles farther, and diseover another group. 'rho principal building was situated on the summit of tho hill. A part of the walls are standing, to tho height of eight or ten feet, and the mortar yet remains, in some places. 'rho house was in the shape of an L, with five rooms on the ground floor, one in the angle, and two in each extension. In the space in the angle, there is a deep excavation. From what we know of the people in tho province of Tusayan, who are, doubtless, of tho sa.me· race as tho former inhabitants of these ruins, we conclude that this was a "kiva," or underground chamber, in which their religious ceremonies wore performed. We leave these ruins, and run down two or three miles, and go into camp about mid-afternoon. And now I climb the wall and go out into the back country for a walk. Tho sandstone, through which tho caTion is cut, is red and homogeneous, being the same as that through which Labyrinth Canon runs. The smooth, UUINS. 69 naked, rock stretches out on either ·side of the river for many miles, but curiously carved mounds and cones are scattered everywhere, and deep holes are worn out. Many of these pockets are filled with water. In one of these holos, or wells, twenty foot deep, I find a tree growing. The excavation is so narrow that I can step from its brink to a limb on the tree, and descend to tho bottom of the well down a growing ladder. Many of these pockets arc pot-holes, being found in the courses of little rills, or brooks, that run during the rains which occasionally fall in this region; and often a few harder rocks, which evidently assisted in their excavation, can be found in their bottoms. Others, which are shallower, are not so easily explained. Perhaps they are found where softer spots existed in the sandstone, places that yielded more readily to atmospheric degradation, and where the loose sands were carried away by the winds. Just before sundown, I attempt to climb a rounded eminence, from which I hope to obtain a good outlook on the surrounding country. It is formed of smooth mounds, piled one above another. Up these I climb, winding here and thoro, to find a practicable way, until ncar the summit they become too steep for me to proceed. I sear ·h about, a fow minutes. for a more easy way, when I am surprised at finding a stairway, evidently cut in the rock by hands. At one place, where thoro is a vertical wall of ten or twolv~ feet, I find an old, rickc_,tty ladder. It may be that this was a watch-tower of that ancient people, whose homes we have found in ruins. On many of tho tributaries of tho Colorado I have heretofore examined their deserted dwelling . Those that show ovid nc s of being built dnring tho latter part of their occupation of tho country, arc, usually, place<l on tho most inaccessible cliffs. Sometimes, tho mouths of caves have been walled across, and there are many other evidences to show their anxiety to securo d.ofonsiblo positions. Probably tho nomadic tribes were sweeping down upon them, and they resorted to those cliffs and canons for safety. I t is not unreasonable to suppose that this orango mound was used as a watch-tower. llcre I st.:'tnd, where those now lost people stood centuries ago, and look ov r this strange country. I gaze off to great mouutains, in the northwest, which aro slowly covered by the night until they arc lost, and then I return to |