REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 59 



The group or village which was most narrowly examined was about 

 half a mile in length, and consisted of a single row of houses, the com- 

 mon rear wall being the lining-rock, while the sides and front were 

 made of large squared stones laid in clay. A narrow street or pathway 

 extended along the entire front. Other and similar villages could be 

 seen along the canon for some distance. 



Among the relics found here was'a wooden spindle whorl similar to 

 those in use by the Pueblos of the present time, but unlike them in the 

 apparent manner of its manufacture. Xothing indicating the use of 

 metallic tools of any description was discovered. The surface of the 

 wood of which the whorl was formed had apparently been charred and 

 then ground down to the required size and shape by rubbing it upon 

 sandstone. A shaft of reed resembling bamboo still remained in the 

 whorl. It had been broken by the maker and neatly mended by wind- 

 ing about it a piece of tine twine. The ends of this twine being exam- 

 ined under the microscope disclosed the fact that its fiber was made of 

 very fine human hair. 



Articles of wood, corn-cobs, and even theperfect grains of corn; wal- 

 nuts, bones of elk, antelope, and wolf; portions of wearing material of 

 a fabric resembling the mummy cloth of Egypt, but made from mate- 

 rial unfamiliar to the explorers', and other perishable articles, were found 

 in abundance buried in the piles of debris which partially fill these 

 deserted homes, and would, at first thought, seem to indicate somewhat 

 recent inhabitancy. On the other hand, however, the preservative 

 qualities of the atmosphere of this region are remarkable, and it is the 

 belief that centuries have elapsed since the last of the departed race or 

 races occupied these old cities and villages as homes. 



Explorations in Arizona and New Mexico. — Mr. Victor Mindeleff, aided 

 by Messrs. dishing and Atkins, proceeded, in the early part of the 

 year, to the Moki towns for the purpose of making ethnologic collec- 

 tions. 



O-rai-be, the most distant of the villages, was the first visited, but 

 much opposition was encountered, in that a large majority of the na- 

 tives were found to be inimical to Americans. 



In consequence of this the O-rai-be collection was small, numbering 

 only about oue hundred and fifty pieces, which had been secretly of- 

 fered in trade, despite the strict injunctions to the contrary of those in 

 authority. A catalogue of this material was prepared by Mr. Cushing 

 t from notes made in the field. 



After leaving O-rai-be, camp was established at a point convenient 

 to the remaining villages, near Ma-shong-i-ni-vi, of the " middle mesa. ,r 

 Here a large collection was secured, principally from the villages of 

 the middle mesa, of modern pottery, basket ware, dance paraphernalia^ 

 and stone implements, as well as a valuable collection of well-preserved 

 ancient pottery, embracing a variety of forms and decorations. 



