REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 45 



this village (or possibly a ueigliboring one) was called Homalobi, aud was occupied 

 by the Water gens, the last to reach Tusayan. The indications are that the period 

 of occupancy was short. 



Mr. Mindeletf found the river at Mormon crossing or " the Crossing of the Fathers" 

 too high for fording, and his party proceeded with difficulty along the northern 

 bank to the old Sunset crossing near Winslow. After fording at this point, the 

 party proceeded to Camp Verde, crossing the Mogollon Mountains by way of Sunset 

 and Chavez passes. At Camp Verde an old field outfit was taken up and the party 

 returned by way of Flagstaff, reaching Little Colorado River at the mouth of San 

 Francisco Avash. This region was formerly a favorite hunting ground of the 

 Tusayan, large parties leaving the villages to hunt antelope and other game so 

 recently as ten years ago; but the game has nearly disappeared, and the annual 

 hunting parties of the Tusayan Indians are now but a memory. From San Francisco 

 wash the party followed the southern branch of the river to Winslow, and the 

 northern side thence to Holbrook. 



LeaA'ing Holbrook early in October, Mr. Mindeleff proceeded northward toward 

 Canyon de Clielly. Advantage was taken of the opportunity to examine the local- 

 ity of a supposed ruin some 35 miles north of Holbrook, concerning which rumors 

 have been current for several years, and the supposed ruin was found to be a nat- 

 ural dike rising from the summit of a low hill as a wall of black basalt over 100 

 feet long, generally less than 2 feet thick, aud sometimes 18 feet high. Near its 

 western end the remains of a habitation consisting of one or two rooms was found, 

 the ground being strewn with potsherds. So striking is this dike that the Navajo 

 guide in.sisted, even when standing before it, that it is artificial; yet examination 

 leaves no doubt as to its real character. C'anyon de Chelly was reached about the 

 middle of October, and detailed examination of its cliff" ruins was begun at once and 

 continued nearly to the end of December. More than sixty ruins were examined, and 

 ground plans of many of them were made and a large series of photographs were 

 taken. The results of this survey, which is summarized elsewhere, are of great 

 interest. 



Leaving Canyon .de Chelly in December, the j)arty proceeded by way of Pueblo 

 Colorado and Fort Defiance, to San Juan River, where it was planned to winter. In 

 crossing Tunicha Mountains a. snowstorm of uuiirecedented severity for the season 

 was encountered, and the party missed the trail and for a time were lost ; among other 

 accidents a wagon was overturned in such manner that Mr. Mindeleff was caught 

 beneath it and his slioulder dislocated, whereby he was disabled for some months. 

 Fortunately the expedition was rescued by a party of ranchmen from Fort Defi- 

 ance, organized for the purpose when the severity of the storm was realized. The 

 success of the expedition and even the preservation of the lives of its members must 

 be ascribed largely to the humanity which inspired the rescue party and the energy 

 with which they pushed into the mountains, rendered almost impassable by the 

 snow aud wind. The expedition reached San Juan River a few days later, and soon 

 after disbanded. 



When able to resume work Mr. Mindeleff' began a reconnoissance of San Juan 

 Valley, not completed at the end of the fiscal year. This district was found rich in 

 ruins, mainly of a type resembling the oldest ruins in Canyon de Chelly. San Juan 

 Valley is terraced, nnd the river itself is a swift mountain stream, and conditions 

 are thus favorable for irrigation by jirimitive as well as civilized men. The detailed 

 surveys here were accordingly extended and resulted in substantial contributions to 

 the archaeology of southwestern United States. 



Mr. James Mooney spent some months, beginning with July, on the Kiowa Reser- 

 vation in Indian Territory, and subsequently visited the Arapahoe and Cheyenne 

 Indians for the purpose of collecting information concerning habits and customs as 

 well as beliefs and languages. He was provided with a graphophone, by means of 

 which he was able to record a number of aboriginal songs, both with and without 



