28 



valley, at this place, widens out considerably, and in the center stands 

 a solitary butte of dark-red sandstone, upon a perfectly bare and smooth 

 floor of the same, dipping down to the center of the valley at a slight 

 inclination. The butte is but a remnant of a former mesa^ worn down 

 by time to its present dimensions, some 100 feet in height and 300 

 iu length. It is an irregular mass, seamed and cracked, and gradually 

 going the way its former surroundings have traveled. Eunning about 

 its base, in irregular lines, are remains of walls, but whether for de- 

 fense or habitation would be hard now to determine. At the back of 

 the rock, a view of which is had in Fig. 10, are the remains of two 

 quite considerable walls, one above the other; the lower portion— one 

 corner only of a square building, all traces of the remaining portions 

 having entirely disappeared— seemed to serve as a sort of approach to 

 the larger building above, the top of which came up nearly to the 

 summit of the rock. It was about 18 feet in length and 12 in height. 

 Portions only of the side-walls, connecting it with the rock, remained. 

 The stones of which it was built were very uniform in size, angle, and 

 finish, more so than any yet seen, but, like all similarly-exposed build- 

 ings, the mortar was washed or worn away entirely from between the 

 outer layers ; farther in, it existed as nsuaf. In front was a single aper- 

 ture of about 18 by 24 inches, whether for door or window would be 

 hard to guess. The only access to the top of the rock was through the 

 window of this house. On top were evidences of some sort of mason- 

 work, that covered it from one end to the other. All the irregular gaps 

 and crevices had been walled up, probably to make an even surface. 

 But few of the stones remained in position ; iu one or two places, three 

 or four courses— all the rest thrown down and scattered. 



In the rear, about fifty yards removed, were other ruins belonging to 

 the same group surrounding the rock. The better-preserved portions 

 consisted of a square tower, with one round corner, about 12 feot in 

 diameter, and upon the lowest side, which stood in a dry ran, about 20 

 feet in height. The walls were 18 inches iu thickness, with no signs of 

 apertures. Adjoining this ruin were the ruins of another, but so much 

 thrown down as to be almost unrecognizable ; and between these and 

 the rock were circular depressions of some considerable depth, indicat- 

 ing either subterranean apartments or reservoirs. JSTo water could be 

 found anywhere in the neighborhood. The dry bed of the McBlmo w^as 

 fully a mile distant, in which water flows during the winter" and spring 

 only. 



Aside from the interest attaching to the ruins themselves, there are 

 thrown about this rock and its surroundings the romance and charm 

 of legendary association. The story runs thus, as given us by our 

 guide, and very excellently rendered by Mr. Ingersoll, iu his article to 

 the New York Tribune of November s": 



Formerly, the aborigines inhabited all this country we had been over as ftu- west as the 

 headwaters of the San Juan, as far north as the Eio Dolores, west some distance into 

 Utah, and south and southwest throughout Arizona and on down into Mexico. They had 

 lived there from time immemorial— since the earth was a small island, which augmented 

 as its inhabitants multiplied. They cultivated the valley, fashioned whatever utensils and 

 tools they needed very neatly and handsomely out of clay and wood and stone, not know- 

 ing any of the usefal metals ; built their homes and kept their flocks and herds in the 

 fertile river-bottoms, and worshiped the sun. They were an eminently peaceful and pros- 

 perous people, living by agriculture rather than by the chase. About a thousand years 

 ago, however, they were visited by savage strangers from the North, whom they treated 

 hospitably. Soon these visits became more frequent and annoying. Then their trouble- 

 some neighbors— ancestors of the present Utes — began to forage upon them, and, at last,' 

 to massacre them and devastate their farms ; so, to save their lives at least, they built 

 houses high upon the cliffs, where they could store food and hide away till the raiders 



