110 THE NAUTILUS. 



sity, and his explorer-companion, John Wetherill, post-trader 

 and postmaster at Kayenta, A.riz. , have explored and studied 

 conditions here at this eastern border for more than twenty 

 years, and by right of discovery (as in conchology) should 

 have their names attached to the greater number of ruins and 

 bridges, for they have been the first discoverers, scientifically. 

 Herbert E. Gregory ' for the government has made a thorough 

 geologic survey of this eastern section covering the Navajo 

 nation, some 22,725 miles. Others before Gregory have written 

 and surveyed, but he is the latest and best authority. Col. 

 Roosevelt and his boys, Zane Grey, the Kolb Brothers and other 

 strenuous persons have visited the Rainbow Bridge but not over 

 150 white people all told have made the journey. Thus to the 

 students in botany, archaeology, conchology, entomology and 

 the reptile hunters, it is a field of great promise. The health 

 seeker and tourist will soon follow, and with profit. 



The Indian population of the Navajo country as estimated in 

 1912 was 32,000, of which 30,016 were Navajo, 2,272 Hopis 

 ("Moquoi" is a Navajo nickname for the Hopis), and 200 

 Piutes and 521 white Indian agents, teachers and traders. North 

 of the San Juan River in Utah and Colorado adjoining is another 

 large reservation of Utes. 



From a high elevation this country appears to be and it is a 

 plateau formation. The average elevation is about 5,500 feet 

 above the sea. The mountains rise above and the canyons fall 

 below this level. To the traveler negotiating the sand dunes, 

 diving into water-worn gulches, and sliding over the wind-swept 

 bed rocks, the plateau definition may seem a gross exaggeration. 

 However it is a plateau, 32 per cent, from 6,000 to 7,000 feet, 

 and 10 per cent, from 7,000 to 9,000 feet above sea level. The 

 water of the Colorado River is but 3,400 feet at this point, and 

 in a distance of eight miles to the peak of Navajo Mountain, 

 10,416 feet, a horizontal difference of 4,016 feet. 



The mean annual rainfall at eight stations in and around the 



1 Geology of the Navajo Country, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. By 

 Herbert E. Gregory, 1917, U. S. Professional Paper. 93. Also by the same 

 author, The San Juan Oil Field, Bui. 431. 



