RUINS IN WHITE RIVER CANON, PIMA COUNTY, ARIZONA. 333 



flocks and herds, aud carry off a few bead of horses by way of variety; 

 but after having glorified themselves sufficiently they are willing- to re- 

 main quiet for a considerable time and smoke their pipes with renewed 

 pleasure. 



RUNS IX WHITE RIVER CVNOV, PIMA COUNTY, ARIZONA. 



By R. T. Burr, M. D., Acting Assistant Surgeon, U. S. A. 



In White Elver Canon, situated in the Chirachui Mountains, in South- 

 eastern Arizona, about 35 miles south of Cainp Bowie, and 25 or 30 

 miles north of the Mexican line, I discovered the remains of an ancient 

 settlement shortly after the establishment of Camp Supply, May 1, 187S. 

 White River Canon is near the southern portion of the mountain chain 

 opening to the west. There are many indications that this canon and 

 vicinity have in the past been occupied by a race much superior to the 

 Apaches. 



The ruins are located in the forks of two branches of White River, or 

 where Henley's Branch joins the main stream from the south. The land 

 is at present a military reservation. They are less than 100 yards from 

 either branch of the stream, on a ridge 40 or 50 feet above the river- 

 bed. The land is rather rocky, but in many places there is excellent 

 alluvial soil along the streams. In the vicinity of the ruins arc at least 

 1,000 acres susceptible of irrigation. The canon has now a growth of 

 pine, oak, juniper, some walnut, and a few sycamores. The surrounding 

 mountains are well covered with pine and oak. It is impossible to tell 

 what changes have taken place since these ruins were occupied. They 

 must have been considerable, as the water supply in the dry season is 

 now limited, the river ceasing to run, and only holding water in a few 

 places. 



Rucker's Spring is a large basin of water that contains as much at one 

 season as at another. The water is strongly impregnated with sulphur. 



The remains occur in groups, some consisting of from two to four or 

 five squares or circles, showing that at the time they were built defense 

 was not a primary object. Isolated in the heart of the mountains, this 

 community would be first exposed to the hostiles, and probably fall a 

 prey to the Apache invasion from the north. 



The other two isolated groups are small, the nearest having three or 

 four squares and no circles; the second, on the east of Rucker's Branch, 

 having five or six squares from 10 to 15 by 20 or 30 feet. The ruins 

 described seem to be the most important ones. I took a sketch of the 

 ground-plan of the ruins. I traced out the walls of the main building 

 as well as I could, the only guide I had being the uprigb.1 stones placed 

 singly from G to 12 inches apart. No remains of a wall exist save these 

 stones that are placed on end and partly buried in the ground. Walls 

 or lines arc, with one exception, due north and south, and east and west. 

 I tested this by means of a compass, and, making allowance for varia- 

 tions of the needle, they are certaiuly wonderfully correct. The walls, 



