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CHAPTEE III 



THE AZTEC RUINS OP NEW MEXICO AND AEIZONA. 



The Euins may be diyided into three classes: — Buins on the Rio Orande 

 Valley: Eiiins of Pecos, Qiiarra, Gran Qiiivera, and Abo. Buins on the 

 Southern Tributaries of the San Juan liiver: Pintado, Una Yida, Wegigi, 

 Chetho Kette, Hungo Pavie, and Bonito. liuins on the Colorado Chiqnito 

 and Trilutaries : Etdns near Zuni, north-west of the Moquis, Pueblo Creek, 

 &c. ; Exiins on the northern branches of the Eio Gila, on the Salinas, Eio 

 Verde, San Carlos, &c. ; in the Gila Valley, and on the Streams south of 

 it; Casa Montezuma and Casas Grandes; lastly, Casas Grandes and Casa 

 Janos, in Chihuahua. 



I MrsT now say a few words about tlie ruins wliich are to 

 bo foimd scattered tbroiigbout Kew Mexico, Arizona, and 

 INortbern Mexico. There is scarcely a valley in tbe Eio 

 Grande basin in wMcb tbe stone or adobe foimdations of 

 villages are not to be found; there is scarcely a spring, a 

 laguna, or a marsh upon the plateau which is not overlooked 

 by some ruined fortress. Usually these relics crowned a com- 

 manding eminence, not always in close proximity either to 

 the fe:i;tile land Avhich supported the community, or even to 

 the spring which supplied them with water. If a stream 

 runs near them, the remains of acequias, or ii'rigating canals, 

 are generally to be found. There are many places, however, 

 where cultivation had been successfully carried on without 

 them, the rainfall alone being relied upon ; while some ruins 

 show signs of reservoii^s and terraces similar to those still 



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in use amongst the Moquis. 



The ruins may be classed under three heads : 

 1st. Euins of many-storied Indian stronghold 



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