fE«KEs] THE OHEVLON RUIN 31 



east of Winslow, with wliich it coiiunuiiicates by a tolerably good 

 wagon road. About 2 miles south of Hardy, near the Esperauza 

 ranch, the creek makes a graceful curve, west of whi(;h there rises a 

 low mound — the site of t'akwabaiyaki or Blue Running Water pueblo. 



The country at this point is barren and sandy, with gravelly hills, 

 and with rock jutting above its surface. There are no trees and oidy a 

 few scrubby bushes of characteristic Arizona vegetation. The banks 

 of Chevlon creek at tliis point are low, and in places there are numerous 

 sand dunes. There is ahvaj's water in the bed of the stream, but in 

 the dry sea.son juuch of it is lost when it gets to the thirsty sands of 

 the Little Colorado vallej'. It is not potable, however, and animals 

 do not drink it eagerly. Fishes and turtles in considerable numbers 

 inhabit tliis stream. 



The road from Wiuslow to the Chevlon ruin crosses the railroad in 

 the suburbs of the town, following the plain to Salt slough, a putrid 

 water hole, by whose alkaline waters many animals have been poisoned. 

 From there the road leads to Clear creek, a beautiful stream which 

 has been dammed to supply water for the town. A fine bridge has 

 been built over Clear creek, and the water at that point is very deep. 

 The banks are high and canyon-like, and the spot is one of the most 

 picturesque near Winslow. From this stream our Indiaii workmen 

 obtained many turtles, which they highly prize, and they make fre- 

 quent pilgrimages to it from Walpi to get water to iise in their cere- 

 monials. Not far from the Clear creek bridge there are evidences of 

 a former population, and the broken-down walls of houses crown 

 some of the adjacent hillocks. There are likewise many ancient picto- 

 graphs in this vicinity. Higher up Clear creek valley, where it is dry 

 and is called Clear creek canyon — a place visited on the waj' to 

 Sunset pass — there are many evidences of former human occupation 

 and abundant pictographs, some of which are of considerable interest. 



There are likewise said to be moimds similar to those at Homolobi 

 on the banks of lioth Chevlon and Clear creeks, and there is little 

 doubt that this is true — at all events as regards the former stream. 

 Portions of canyons along the upper course of Clear creek were 

 examined and numerous pictographs were found on their walls. 

 There were also evidences of former habitations. 



It must have been not far from Chevlon ruin where Sitgreaves and 

 his pai'ty camped on October 2, 18.51, but in his narrative he does not 

 mention the ruin, though the short notice of camp number '.) corre- 

 s])onds with the locality in other respects. He sajs (page 7): 



The river [Little Colorado] here receives a tributary known among trappers as 

 Chevelon's fork, from one of that name who died upon its banks from eating some 

 poisonous root. Tlieir confluence prodiices an intricate labyrinth of sloughs, in 

 which we became involved and were fon'ed to encamp, not finding an outlet until 

 late in the day. In several places veins of fibrous gypsum (selenite) were seen, 

 looking like the ice crystals that burst open the ground in spring. " 



" Report of an expedition down the Zuni and Colorado rivera. Senate Document 59, Thirty- 

 second Congress, second session. 1853. 



