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Show 147 There seems but little doubt that at one time this part of New Mexico was densely populated, as in the valley of the Chama we have undoubted evidence of the existence of the ruins of at least six or eight towns which must have been sufficiently large, from present indications, to have contained a total population of two or three thousand. General Simpson, in his valuable report already noted, has made mention of MB discovery of quite a number of these ruins south of the Jemez range on the Rio Chama, a tributary of the Bio San Juan, the most interesting being called the Pueblo Pintado. This town, unlike those visited by our parties in the valley of the Chama, was built of compact reddish- gray sandstone in tabular pieces. The town is stated by Hosta, chief of the Pueblos 01 Jemez, to have been built by Moctezuma and his people when they were on their way from the north toward the south; that after living here for a while they dispersed, some of them going east and settling on the Bio Grande, and others south into Old Mexico. It appears that the people must have been very numerous, if we consider how many of these towns they were able to build. A number of these were seen by General Simpson, and our own parties have also visited a great number heretofore undiscovered, particularly those on the Rio San Juan, south and westward of Tierra Amarilla. From none of the accounts given of these ruins have I been able to'discover that any human remains were fonud. In fact, it is not certain they have been sought for, and it is hoped that interesting discoveries in this regard may prove an incentive to further exploratory work. It may be mentioned that we also excavated a number of pits in the vicinity of an ancient pueblo near San Ildefonso, N. Mex., but failed to find anything of interest. This town had been built on a mesa overlooking the Bio Grande, and was somewhat similar in character to the one already described. I should fail in showing my appreciation of favors conferred during the prosecution of this interesting exploration did I neglect to mention that I ' first heard of the pueblo from Dr. Oscar Loew, the mineralogist of the expedition, who very kindly placed at my service the information he had acquired from Padre Salazar; and I should also state how ably I was seconded in my efforts to obtain the skeletons by Prof. E. D. Cope, and Mr. R. J. Ainsworth, which latter gentleman unfortunately lost his life only three days after he made the excavations by the accidental discharge of a revolver in his own hands. The following fact is simply stated to show a curious coincidence with the superstition of the Mexicans and Indians: At the pueblo near San Ildefonso Mr. Ainsworth made the excavations for skeletons, I myself not being able to assist, being ill; and at this time he was'warned by his Indian guide that those who disturbed, the bones of the dead usually suffered from ill luck, or perished violently. How truthfully this prediction was fulfilled is exemplified in his case. In giving a description of the discovery, I have made no attempt to generalize, but trust that, as experience accrues and further explorations are made, something may be found to throw additional light on the habits and customs of the New Mexican lost races who formerly resided in the neighborhood. We left Abiquiu September 3, and reached Tierra Amarilla September 4. At this point we had the misfortune to lose our valued friend and topographer, Mr. R. J. Ainsworth, by the accidental discharge of a pistol in his own hands, and I cannot refrain from stating that his loss to the expedition I consider a most serious one. Ever ready to offer his services when they could be made available, conscientious and energetic in the discharge of his duties, he won the respect and love of all those associated with him. Considerable collecting was done in the vicinity of Tierra Amarilla in reptiles and fishes, and valuable ethnological material was obtained from the Capote Utes and Jicarilla Apaches. Professor Cone was dispatched to Gallinas Creek to continue his investigations of the fossil deposits, and the writer joined, at Pagosa, Colo., the main party under yourself. At Pagosa from September 14 until September 20 much collecting was done by Mr. Aiken and myself, and many interesting fish from the San Juan River were obtained. The route pursued by Mr. Aiken, with his notes in regard to his work, are hereinafter given. Toward the close of May of the present fiscal year, acting under instructions, a party, specially detached, consisting of Dr. J. T. Rothrock, H. W. Henshaw, Mr. Shoemaker, and myself, proceeded to the coast of Southern California, in Santa Barbara County, for the purpose of investigating the so- called grave- mounds on that coast. About a month was speut in this most interesting work, and very valuable results were obtained. The graves in question are comparatively frequent on the coast, and probably extend from north of Moro Bay to San Diego, Cal. They are almost invariably in the immediate vicinity of former villages, and nave, doubtless, been used for ages, if the number of skeletons found therein are any criterion to judge by. Of the people themselves who formerly lived upon the coast we have little information. Cabrillo, a Portuguese navigator in the Spanish service, visited the locality in 1542, and mentions |
