ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT LXXI 



a strong- resemblance to the plan of ruins found near the Tu- 

 sayan villao'es. Tradition recites that this village (or possibly 

 a neighl)oring- one) was called Honiolobi, and was occupied 

 by the Water clan, the last to reach Tusayan. The indica- 

 tions 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 liank to the old 

 Sunset crossing near Winslow. After fording nt this })()int, the 

 party proceeded to Verde, crossing the Mogollon mountains by 

 way of Sunset and Chaves passes. At Verde an old field outfit 

 was taken up, and the party returned by way of Flagstaft', 

 reaching Little Colorado river at the mouth of San Francisco 

 wash. 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 Tusa- 

 yan 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. 



Leaving Holbrook early in October, Mr Mindeleff proceeded 

 northward tow;n-d Canyon de Chelly. Advantage was taken 

 of the opportunity to examine the locality 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 natural dike rising from the summit of a low hill 

 as a wall of black basalt over '00 feet long, generally less than 

 2 feet thick, and 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 Navaho guide insisted, even when standing 

 Jaefore it, that it is artificial; yet examination leaves no doubt 

 as to its i-eal character. Canyon 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 sixtv ruins were examined, gn^uud 

 plans of many of them were made and a large series of photo- 

 graphs were taken. The results of this interesting survev will 

 be incorporated in the Sixteenth Annual Rej)ort. 



