FEWKES] NAVAHO NATIONAL MONUMENT, ARIZONA 31 
open pueblos: The effect of difference in geological structure is 
nowhere more evident than in these adjacent formations. 
If environment has had so marked an influence on the character 
of building, we can readily see how it has affected arts and crafts. 
We can hardly imagine a people living any length of time in this re- 
gion without being mentally influenced by the precipitous cliffs that 
rise on all sides. The summits of these heights are eroded into fantastic 
shapes resembling animals or grotesque human forms. The constant 
presence of these marvelous forms, of awe-inspiring size and weird 
appearance, exerted a profound influence on the supernatural ideas 
of the inhabitants. Here were born many conceptions of earth gods 
and the like, survivals of which still remain among the Hopi. 
As a rule the cliff-houses are not situated in sight of the main 
stream, but are hidden away in secluded side canyons, approached 
by narrow entrances, their sites having been determined no doubt 
by the position of the springs with their constant water supply. 
Almost every side canyon, even in a dry season, has its spring of 
water which, trickling out of the rocks, follows the canyon bed until 
it is finally drunk up by the thirsty sands. Often water seeps out of a 
soft stratum of rock in the cave itself, where it was gathered in arti- 
ficial reservoirs that in ancient times furnished an adequate supply for 
the inhabitants. One feature of these side canyons is that they enlarge 
into basins surrounded on all sides by lofty cliffs. Many of these 
basins are so hidden that they can be discovered only by following 
dry stream-beds from their junction with the creeks. How many of 
these basins are still undiscovered no one can yet tell. In these 
basins now covered with bushes the aboriginal farms were probably 
situated. 
As the width of the valley of Laguna creek from Marsh pass to the 
point where the stream receives its largest branches on the left bank 
varies, the amount of arable land is greater in some places than in 
others. In stretches where the stream almost washes the bases of 
the ruins there could have been no extensive farming lands. The 
creek meanders through the soft clay and sand which fill the valley 
to the depth of many feet, forming treacherous banks that are con- 
tinually falling and changing the course of the stream, so it is quite 
possible that the present configuration of the valley is very different 
from what it was when the cliff-dwellings were inhabited. If the 
occupants once had farms within its limits all traces of them would 
have long since been obliterated. Although too much credence 
should not be given to Navaho traditions, it is not unreasonable to 
believe that in one particular at least they are correct. These state 
that, before the introduction of sheep, grass was much higher in the 
level part of the valley than at present, and formerly game (at least 
the mountain sheep and the antelope) may have been more abun- 
