MINDELEFF. ] THE FIRST MESA. 43 
the “ First Mesa” (Fig. 1), within a distance of 4 or 5 miles from the vil- 
lages located upon it, there are at least five places where water can be 
obtained. One of these is a mere surface reservoir, but the others ap- 
pear to be permanent springs. The quantity of water, however, is so 
small that it produces no impression on the arid and sterile effect of the 
surroundings, except in its immediate vicinity. Here small patches of 
green, standing out in strong relief against their sandy back-grounds, 
mark the position of clusters of low, stunted peach trees that have ob- 
tained a foothold on the steep sand dunes. 
Fic. 1, View of the First Mesa. 
In the open plains surrounding the mesa rim (6,000 feet above the 
sea), are seen broad stretches of dusty sage brush and prickly grease- 
wood. Where the plain rises toward the base of the mesa a scattered 
growth of scrub cedar and pion begins to appear. But little of this 
latter growth is seen in the immediate vicinity of the villages; it is, 
however, the characteristic vegetation of the mesas, while, in still higher 
altitudes, toward the San Juan, open forests of timber are met with. 
This latter country seems scarcely to have come within the ancient 
builder’s province; possibly on account of its coldness in winter and for 
the reason that it is open to the incursions of warlike hunting tribes. 
Sage brush and greasewood grow abundantly near the villages, and 
these curious gnarled and twisted shrubs furnish the principal fuel of 
the Tusayan. 
Occasionally grassy levels are seen that for a few weeks in early sum- 
mer are richly carpeted with multitudes of delicate wild flowers. The 
beauty of these patches of gleaming color is enhanced by contrast with 
the forbidding and rugged character of the surroundings; but in a very 
short time these blossoms disappear from the arid and parched desert 
