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Show 145 was made here of an ancient pueblo and burial- ground in the valley of the Rio Cbama, about three miles east of Abiquiu, and had been built on the top of a mesa, or table- . and, rising probably 100 or 150 feet above the level of the river. This mesa lies at the foot of the Jemez range of mountains, and has the appearance of a high foot- hill from the valley; seen from above, it is simply a promontory of land in the shape of a trapezoid, or frnstrum of a cone. At its base in each side were the only means of approach- two narrow, steep cafions, worn away by the streams of water from the mountains above. In case of war, these approaches could have been defended against thousands by a dozen resolute men with no better weapons than rocks and stones. The front of the mesa is a sheer precipice, allowing of no ingress to the town in that direction, and it wonld appear that the builders of it chose this spot with a considerable degree of sagacity, and with a view to a good defensive position, although we were unable to determine where, in case of a protracted siege, the inhabitants could have obtained water. A glance at the accompanying wood- cut will, perhaps, enable the Diagram showing ruins in valley of the Rio Cbama, near Abiquiu, N. Mex. reader to better understand exactly the position of the mesa, village, and suirouudings. The Rio Cbama flows through the valley at the foot of the mesa, as represented in the cut, the road, aa, running alongside of it. The two canons or approaches to the town are marked bb, and cc are two arroyos or ditches, in the sides of which graves were found. These ditches have been also formed in a similar manner to the cafions, but subsequent to the occupation of the village. It will be seen from the engraving that the town was built in the shape of a double L, having an open area, or court- yard, on both sides, and with bastions or towers at the corners, one defending the western caflon- approacb, and the other the only entrance to the town. The front wall was 40 feet in length; the side wall, 50 feet; first rear wall, 30 feet; a prolongation of this, 40 feet; secoud rear wall, 80 feet; eastern side wall, 50 feet; the bastions being 10 feet in diameter; the estnfa, or council- chamber, 20 feet. These walls had been built double, as is represented, and the dwellings were between, divided up into spaces about 10 feet square. Upon the supposition that each of the spaces were occupied by one family consisting of, say, five individuals, and that the structure was two stories in height, we may imagine the population of this town to have been in the neighborhood of 250. If the houses consisted of five stories, like some of the pueblo villages of the present day, |