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Show 43 The far more numerous class of ruins occupying like mesas and the promontory poiuts consist of a solid mass of small rectangular jrooms, arranged without any appearance of order, conforming to the irregularities of the surface upon which they are built, and covering, usually, all of the available space chosen for their site. All are extremely old, tumbled into indefinite ridges 5 or 6 feet high, and as broad, with the stones partially crumbled into sand, and all covered with sage- brush, greasewood and junipers. They occupied every commanding and available spur of the mesas, usually so placed in the bends as to afford a clear lookout for considerable distances up and down the canon. They resemble in this respect the sites chosen by the Moquis in building their villages; but we are not able to trace the resemblance further, from the extremely aged and ruinous state in which these remaius are found. Between these fortresses and on the level bottom- lands, generally close up to the bluff upon either^ side, are occasional smaller ruins, resembling those at the dry camp. In connection with these a peculiar feature is shown in Plate 20, Fig. 2. At the foot of one of the promontory towns a low bench, tongue- shaped, and only about 10 feet above the valley, runs out from the mesa 200 feet in length and half as broad, through the center of which runs a wall its entire length; a portion of it is composed of the large upright rocks shown in the sketch, the largest standing seven feet above the surface and evidently extending some distance below, in order to be retained so firmly in their places. There are only seven of these standiug, placed about 5 feet apart, the rest of the wall- line being composed of a low ridge of loose rock extending up to a mass of old ruins at the foot of the bluff. One side of the space divided by this wall is filled with a great pile of rocks arranged iu irregular lines inclosing areas from 20 to 50 feet in diameter, the whole indicating a very considerable structure. Grouped among the lower end of these towns were a number of the small cliff- houses; a regular colony of them occurring at the first bend of the West Montezuma, about a dozen miles above its junction with the east fork. An exceedingly well- preserved and peculiar one is shown in Fig. 1 of Plate 18. A block of sandstone setting on the edge of a mesa bench 50 feet above the valley has a deep oval hole worn in it, probably by natural agencies, which is nearly entirely occupied by a very neatly- built little house 10 feet long, G high, and 5 deep. A space at one end is reserved just large enough to serve as a platform to enter from. Below the bend in which these cliff- houses occur, the Montezuma loses its caiion character and spreads out into a wide, barren valley, thickly covered with tall sage- brush, and the wash lined with large cot-tonwoods. The m6sas upon either hand dwindle down considerably in height and abruptness, and seldom contain ruins. The large square buildings on the bottom- lands, however, are importaut features, and were it not for their great number, and the exceeding indefiniteness of their outlines, we might linger longer and describe each in detail. Over all are found immense quantities of broken pottery, many examples of which are shown in the accompanying plates. Arrow- points and like chipped work w. ere especially numerous, and a great many of small size and great delicacy of finish were found. Itshould have been mentioned that running water occurs in the Montezuma at the bend spoken of, aud a band of Wemiuuche Utes, who now occupy these caiions, have considerable corn planted there. It is not impossible that formerly water was constant throughout the whole length of the region occupied by these ruins. Below the junction of the east and west forks of the Montezuma, the valley must have been |