74 PICTURE-WRITING OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS. 
notes weremade by Mr. Brandegee. The reproduction is approximately one-twelfth 
the size of the original. a 
The examples shown in Fig. 36 occur on the Rio San Juan about 10 miles below 
the mouth of the Rio La Plata and are actually in New Mexico, A low line of blufts, 
composed of light-colored massive sandstones that break down in great smooth-faced 
blocks, rises from the river level and sweeps around toward the north. LKach of 
these great blocks has offered a very tempting tablet to the graver of the primitive 
artist, and many of them contain curious and interesting inscriptions. Drawings 
were made of such of these as the limited time at my disposal would permit. They 
are all engraved or cut into the face of the rock, and the whole body of each figure 
has generally been chipped out, frequently to the depth of one-fourth or one-half of 
an inch. 
Fic. 36.—Petroglyphs on the Rio San Juan, New Mexico. 
The work on some of the larger groups has been one of immense labor, and must 
owe its completion to strong and enduring motives. With a very few exceptions 
the engraving bears undoubted evidence of age. Such new figures as occur are 
guite easily distinguished both by the freshness of the chipped surfaces and by the_ 
designs themselves. The curious designs given in the final group have a very per- 
ceptible resemblance to many of the figures used in the embellishment of pottery. 
The most striking group observed is given in Fig. 37 A, same locality. It consists 
of a great procession of men, birds, beasts, and fanciful figures. The whole picture 
as placed upon a rock is highly spirited and the idea of a general movement toward 
the right, skillfully portrayed. A pair of winged figures hover about the train asif 
