80 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 76 



Secondly, it may have washed through the doorway from the 

 outer cave when the main outlet of the latter in the face of the 

 bluff toward B (fig. 13) was obstructed in some way. This is im- 

 probable. 



Thirdly, it may be due to material deposited in the eddy or swirl 

 created by the corner of the west wall whenever a large volume of 

 drainage water flowed from the westward in the main cave and was 

 sharply deflected toward the south when it struck the east wall. 

 This is no doubt the correct explanation. 



Whether or not these floods had any part in piling up the clay 

 at the doorway, beyond doubt it was to them that the clay, gravel, 

 and sand resting upon the floor of the main cave owe their origin. 

 To them is likewise due the dark earth overlying the clay at the 

 rear and covering the floor of the recess in the east 

 wall. Clearlj', there was at one time in the cave's 

 history a current at intervals, which carried mud 

 and small rocks from the interior of the cave, 

 or from the outside surface through sink holes, 

 and left at least a part of it where the velocity of 

 the stream was checked. Later, much of this 

 v\'ater found other drainage channels, and the 

 coarser matter could no longer be carried into the 

 cave ; but at times of unusually heavy precipita- 

 , „ ^ , tion enough of the torrent followed the old course 



Fig. 17. — Clay . P ™ . 



pipe from to bring m the dark earth. The last is due to top 

 Miller's Cave. g^^j containing a large amount of humus from de- 

 caying vegetation. Finally, no more water came this way except as 

 seepage, which is the condition at present. 



The pool at the rear may be entirely empty in dry seasons; and 

 after heavy rains may contain a depth of 2 feet. This water now 

 has a greasy looking scum and a sour, unpleasant odor. 



The cave was inhabited before the water had entirely ceased to 

 flow through it; this is proven by the alternation of refuse and silt 

 in the recess under the east Avail. Kitchen waste would be thrown 

 here, and when the water rose sediment would cover it. There was 

 then dry ground near the doorway ; and the water in the pool, having 

 an outlet toward the east, through the crevice, was fit for use, ex- 

 cept, perhaps, when turbid. 



On the rear slope, 18 feet from the water, the excavation was 

 carried to the level of the bottom of the pool. The lower 2 feet 

 was mud, and at the bottom water oozed in. Scattered through this 

 muddy earth was much charcoal in small fragments; and for a 

 short distance it also occurred for a few inches below the surface of 



