THE ENCHANTED MESA 275 



ing the height, in the latter part of July, by means of a life-sav- 

 ing equipment. It would seem that Professor Libbey neglected 

 to search for relics in the talus, that he devoted no attention 

 to the great southwestern cleft or cove up which the trail was 

 reputed to have passed, and that after spending some three hours 

 on the narrow southern extension of the mesa top, awaiting the 

 arrival of a ladder from Acoma to conduct him across a fissure, 

 he employed the remaining two hours in a reconnaissance of 

 the wider and more interesting part of the height, finding noth- 

 ing that would indicate even a former visit by human beings.* 



While engaged in archeologic work in Arizona and later in 

 CeboUita valley in western central New Mexico, some 20 miles 

 westward from Acoma pueblo, I was directed to visit Katzimo 

 once more in order to determine what additional data of an arche- 

 ological nature might be gathered by an examination of the 

 summit. The knowledge gained by the previous visit made it 

 apparent that a light equipment only would be necessary to ac- 

 complish the task. Procuring an extension ladder, comprising 

 six 6-foot sections, some 300 feet of half-inch rope, and a pole- 

 pick, together with a number of bolts, drills, etc., which after- 

 ward were found to be needless, 1 proceeded to Laguna, the 

 newest, j'et the most rapidly decaying, of all the pueblos, on the 

 yanta Fe Pacific railroad. Here I was fortunate in enlisting 

 the services of Major George H. Pradt, who has served as a 

 United States deputy surveyor in that section for nearly 30 

 years ; Mr A. C. Vroman, of Pasadena, California, a few of whose 

 excellent photographs are here reproduced, and Mr H. C. Hayt, 

 of Chicago. Much of the success of the little expedition is due 

 to the untiring aid of these gentlemen, and for mau}^ creature 

 comforts I am indebted to the Messrs Marmon, whose beautiful 

 little home at Laguna has delighted the heart of many a weary 

 wayfarer in that sunny land. 



Leaving the railroad September 1, we proceeded with two 

 farm wagons, each drawn by a very small black mule and a 

 large white horse, driven by two sturdy Laguna boys. The road 

 trends westward for about seven miles, then turns southward 

 through a rather wide valley scarred with arroyas and lined with 



♦Had the explorer crossed to the northern part of the mesa by means of a bench a 

 few feet below the summit of the rocky southern tongue, it would not have been neces- 

 sary for him to spend most of his time so fruitlessly in awaiting the arrival of means to 

 cross the fissure. The ladder was found as Professor Libbey had left it, but was taken 

 down by one of the Indians, who followed the bench mentioned, in order to secure the 

 rope for his own use. The ladder is the short one shown in PI. 33, the photograph 

 having been made during the descent. 



