56 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



Stand atmospheric degradation very long, and there is abundant evi- 

 dence of this cliaracter testifying to the recent occupancy of these 

 cavate dwellings. Above the clifls, on the mesas which have already 

 been described, evidences of more ancient ruins were found. These 

 were pueblos built of cut stone rudely dressed. Every mesa had at 

 least one ancient pueblo upon it, evidently far more ancient than the 

 cavate dwellings found in the face of the cliffs. It is then very plain 

 that the cavate dwellings are not of great age; that they have been 

 occupied since the advent of the white man, and that on the summit of 

 the cliffs there are ruins of more ancient pueblos. Now, the pottery of 

 Santa Clara had been previously studied by Mr. Stevenson, who made 

 a large collection there two or three years ago, and it was at once no- 

 ticed that the potsherds of these cliff dwellings are, both in shape and 

 material, like those now made by the Santa Clara Indians. The pecu- 

 liar pottery of Santa Clara is readily distinguished, as may be seen by 

 examining the collection now in the iSTational Museum. While encamped 

 in the valley below, the party met a Santa Clara Indian, and engaged 

 him in conversation. From him the history of the cliff dwellings was 

 soon discovered. His statement was that originally his people lived in 

 six pueblos, built of cut stone, upon the summit of the mesas ; that 

 there came a time when they were at war with the Apaches and Nava- 

 ios, when they abandoned their stone pueblos above, and for greater 

 protection excavated the chambers in the cliffs below ; that when this 

 war ended, part of them returned to the pueblos above, which were re- 

 built; that there afterward came another war, with the Comanche In- 

 dians, and they once more resorted to cliff" dwellings. At the close of this 

 war they built a pueblo in the valley of the Eio Grande, but at the time 

 of the invasion of the Spaniards their people refused to be baptized, 

 and a Spanish army was sent against them, when they abandoned the 

 valley below and once more inhabited the cliff dwellings above. Here 

 they lived many years, until at last a wise and good priest brought 

 them i)eace, and persuaded them to build the pueblo which they now 

 occupy — the village of Santa Clara. The ruin of the pueblo, which 

 they occupied i^revious to the invasion of the Spaniards, is still to be 

 seen, about a mile distant from the present pueblo. 



The history thus briefly given was repeated by the governor, and by 

 other persons, all substantially to the same effect. It is therefore 

 evident that the cavate dwellings of the Santa Clara region belong to 

 a people still extant ; that they are not of great antiquity, and do not, 

 give evidence of a x)rehistoric and now extinct race. 



Plans and measurements were made of some of the villages with 

 sufficient accuracy to prepare models. Photographic views and sketches 

 were also procured, with which to illustrate a detailed report of the 

 subject, to be published by the Bureau. 



After the investigations made in company with the Director, Mr. 

 Stevenson proceeded with a pnrty to the Province of Tusayan, in Ari- 



