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BY PATH AND TBAIL. 183 The trees are much, very much more ancient than those of Yellowstone park. Of course, I cannot mark time with Professor Tolman when figuring upon the very remote beginning of creation. I am yet a Christian, and will, I am satisfied, die in my belief in revelation. My studies in archaeology and paleontology but confirm me in my attachment to the orthodox school of theology. Dr. Tol man and the school to which he belongs count by millions of years, I count by thousands. " The petrified trees of all other known localities, " said the learned professor of geology, " are of tertiary age, while the Arizona for est goes far back into Mesozoic time, probably to the Triassic formation. The difference in their antiquity is therefore many millions of years." And, now, before I attempt to describe this great won der, as it appeared to me, let me for a moment linger by the wayside. About sixteen years ago there was a man named Adam Hanna, who lived between the Santa Fe railroad and the nearest point to the petrified forest. When the officials of the road decided to build a station due north of the forest and about eight miles from the Natural Bridge, they gave it the name of Adamana, in compliment to Mr. Adam Hanna, upon whom fell the honor of conducting scientists and visitors to the forest. At Adamana, I stepped from the train, and, with a com panion, took the stage for the petrified lands. Midway, between the station and the Natural Bridge, we left the wagon and struck across the country to visit the ruins of an Indian pueblo and fortification, whose people had disappeared many years before the Spaniards crossed the mountains of Arizona. Approaching the ruin we en tered the tribal graveyard, where some years ago a vast accumulation of silver and copper ornaments, of agate |
