- 120 SAN FRANCISCO FOREST TO MOQUIS—DESCRIPTION OF TOWN, ETC. 
deal of oe brought about this understanding, and then he signified that we must leave 
the trail and follow him, which we accordingly did, diverging a little to the left from our former 
course. It was the first time we had had a guide since the departure of Ireteba, and it was 
pleasant to be able once more to shift the responsibility of conducting the train to a third party. 
Our new friend had a pleasant, infelligent face which expressed, however, misgivings as to 
our character and object in coming into that unvisited region. He rode along humming to 
himself, with a palpable affectation of being cool and unconcerned, occasionally glancing back 
with a dubious air to see what was going on behind. The two who had been selected to bear 
the brunt of the first interview had, I suppose, brought the horse as a means of escape, for soon 
others of the tribe, satisfied of our pacific intentions, came up on foot. All were running at the 
top of their speed. They approached to the very sides of the mules, greatly to the alarm of 
those animals, and suddenly brought up to shake hands, commencing with me, and continuing 
through the train. They were clean and nice looking; no particular costume prevailed. Every 
available article acquired by trading with other Indians—for they have no communication with 
whites—had been converted into raiment or material for personal adornment. Their figures 
were of medium size and indifferently proportioned, their features strongly marked and homely, 
with an expression generally bright and good-natured. Thirty or forty joined us, and the 
cortege in a little while became of considerable length. 
The face of the bluff, upon the summit of which the town was perched, was cut up and 
irregular. We were led through a passage that wound among some low hillocks of sand and 
rock that extended half-way to the top. Large flocks of sheep were passed; all but one or two 
were jet black, presenting, when together, a singular appearance. It did not seem possible, 
while ascending through the sand-hills, that a spring could be found in such a dry looking place, 
but presently a crowd was seen collected upon a mound before a small plateau, in the centre of 
; which was a circular reservoir, fifty feet in diameter, lined with masonry, and filled with pure 
cold water. The basin was fed from a pipe connecting with some source of supply upon the 
summit of the mesa. The Moquis looked amiably on while the mules were quenching their 
thirst, and then my guide informed me that he would conduct us toa grazing camp. Continuing 
to ascend we came to another reservoir, smaller but of more elaborate construction and finish. 
From this, the guide said, they got their drinking water, the other reservoir being intended for 
animals. Between the two the face of the bluff had been ingeniously converted into terraces. 
These were faced with neat masonry, and contained gardens, each surrounded with a raised 
edge so as to retain rater upon the surface. Pipes from the reservoirs permitted them at any 
time to be irrigated. 
Peach trees were ae upon the terraces and in the hollows below. <A long flight of stone 
steps, with sharp turns that could easily be defended, was built into the face of the precipice, 
and led from the upper reservoir to the foot of the town. The scene, rendered animated by 
in their gail -colored. dresses, was one of the most remarkable I had ever 
eo : was interrupted by the guide, who told me, to my astonish- 
mp-ground. Besides the danger of the mules trampling upon 
‘dens, 1t was no place to stop, inasmuch as there was not a blade of grass. * et 
m of the inde, to the latter fact, which he did not appear to have considered. 
ecting upon the matter, we were joined by a pleasant looking middle-aged 
some shell suspended to his neck, and a kind of baton in his hand, whom I 
ief. Like the rest, he shook hands all around, and held a consultation with 
the crowd generally about the grass. They finally concluded that there 
ae head, and we proceeded’ around the ascent by a side trail that led 
2 ten minutes a spot ae reached which all agreed was the best 
ondered that their one horse looked so thin. 
three x Alay ia all the as in the neighbor- 
