25 



feet ia diameter, and now about 20 in height, the wall being about IG 

 inches in thickness. Facing the valley northward was a window-like 

 aperture, about 18 by 24 inches in size ; the lower lintel some 7 or 8 feet 

 above the base. The stones of which it was constructed were uniform 

 in size and angle. Being so entirely exposed to atmospheric influences, 

 the mortar had worn away entirely from between the outer layers. In- 

 side, the debris was heaped up nearly to the window. By referring to 

 Fig, 3, it will be seen that a rectangular structure, divided into two 

 apartments, each about 15 feet square, joined the tower. Only one cor- 

 ner of three or four courses of masonry remained, shown by the shaded 

 lines ; the rest being indicated by mound-like lines of loose debris, in 

 which but few stones remained, from which fact, and also that the cen- 

 ter of each square was considerably depressed below the surrounding- 

 surface, I should judge that it had been an underground structure, its 

 roof not reaching the window midway in the tower. It would be ex- 

 tremely interesting to excavate upon these old foundations; for I doubt 

 not that many interesting relics, and possibly some clew to their man- 

 ner of life, might be found. Our time, however, was too limited to 

 admit of the experiment, much as we desired the information it might 

 furnish. 



In the same neighborhood stood a corner and a portion of a doorway 

 of a house, (see Fig. 4,) showing considerable care and skill in its con- 

 struction, and, what we had not noticed before, the doorway facing- 

 east was a little over 6 feet in height, tall enough to enable a person to 

 stand up in it. 



With these, we finished our observations of the ruins in the Caiion de 

 los Mancos. We were now at its mouth, the mesa ending as abruptly 

 as it began; the river, turning well westward and following approxi- 

 mately the course of the San Juan, joined it near the southwestern 

 corner of the Territory, at the foot of Ute Mountain. 



Striking off to the right from the stream, and following close under 

 the bold escarpment of the 7nesa, we could still discern, as we bore 

 away, group after group of standing walls and mounds, extending- down 

 the valley into the broad open plain of the San Juan. It was with many 

 regrets that we turned our backs upon these relics of a forgotten 

 race. Our trail now lay over the peculiar marly earths lying under 

 the sandstones of the table-land, soft, friable, and dusty, without 

 vegetation, our mule's feet sinking into it to the fetlocks at each 

 step. At our right, portions of the onesa had become separated, 

 and weathered into peculiar pinnacled turrets. One particularly 

 stood out detached some fifty rods ; the trail passing between it and the 

 mesa, forming an old and well-known landmark on the old Spanish 

 trail from Santa Fe to Salt Lake. A little farther on, and to the right, 

 was another mass, bearing a curious resemblance to a matron standing 

 with a child beside her, the alternating bands of red and white strata 

 marking off the figure into its diiferent proportions and into flounces 

 and trimmings. 



Away to the south and west, over the broad plains of the San Juan, 

 where roamed the great flocks of sheep and goats belonging to the Nava- 

 ioes, the Callabassas Mountains reared themselves into distinct view, 

 while, between them and the river, a great cristone thrust itself up out 

 of the earth to a height of at least 2,000 feet, as veritable a needle as was 

 ever christened such. 



Striking into this old trail, we bore around to the western side of the 

 mesa, and, near nightfall, arrived at v.'hat are known locally as "Aztec 

 Springs." This, for there is one only, lies out upon the northeastern 



