Some Facts and Considerations about Fort Ancient. 295 



length, and no doubt extends over the entire space between the fort 

 and the sacrificial mound. Coming here upon the palpable evidence 

 of the former use and connection of the mounds and roadway, the im- 

 agination was not slow to conjure up the scene which was doubtless 

 once familiar to the dwellers of Fort Ancient. A train of worshipers, 

 led by priests clad in their sacred robes, and bearing aloft the holy 

 utensils, pass in the early morning, ere yet the mists have risen from 

 the valley below, along the gently swelling ridge, on which the ancient 

 roadway lies ; they near the mound, and a solemn stillness succeeds 

 their chanting songs ; the priests ascend the hill of sacrifice and pre- 

 pare the sacred fire ; now, the first beams of the rising sun shoot up 

 athwart the ruddy sky, gilding the topmost boughs of the trees ; the 

 holy flame is kindled — a curling wreath of smoke arises to greet the 

 coming god ; the tremulous hush which was upon all nature breaks 

 into vocal joy, and songs of gladness bui'st from the throats of the 

 waiting nuiltitude as the glorious luminary arises in majesty and beams 

 upon his adoring people — a promise of renewed life and happiness. 

 Vain promise! since even his rays can not penetrate the utter darkness 

 which for ages has settled over this people. 



In the immediate vicinity, outside of the main eastern gateway, in- 

 credible quantities of flint chips, consisting of fragments of arrow heads, 

 knives, needles, awls, etc., may be gathered from the newly-plowed 

 ground after a shower. These are found in the space of an acre, and 

 exhibit most beautiful specimens of chalcedony, quartz, and other sil- 

 iceous rocks of various colors. Some of these fragments, found in a 

 half hour's search, rival the finest specimens of the Colorado moss- 

 agate. 



Passing thence along the embankment, which forms an elevated path, 

 with occasional detours to avoid the ravines washed out from the in- 

 terior, the observer, by following the devious windings of the wall, can 

 not but notice the manifest skill by which, as before remarked, the 

 radiating spurs of the natural terrace, which would render assault more 

 easy, are guarded. At the southern extremity of the larger fort the 

 connecting passage, leading into the smaller work, is guarded by a cross 

 embankment or wall, with a central opening protected by the doubling 

 of the wall in the manner of the TIascalan defenses of Mexico. At the 

 southern extremity of the connecting way stand the two mounds before 

 described, compelling passage between them through a narrow space, 

 easily guarded. The space inclosed by the small fort, crowning the high 

 blufl', around whose base the river winds, has recently been cleared and 

 put under cultivation. The portion nearest the river i ' the site of a 

 comparatively modern Indian village. The evidences of such occupa- 



