HOLJIES.J CLIFF-HOUSES, EIO MANGOS. 393 



the roof. The central enclosure has doubtless served as an estufa^ and 

 there are still evidences of a considerable depression. 



That this ruin is quite ancient is attested by the advanced stage of 

 decay, and that it has been of considerable height may be inferred from 

 the large quantities of debris. A similar and somewhat more perfect 

 example of double- walled tower is illustrated in Plate XXXIX. 



There seem to have been no buildings of importance in connection 

 with this ruin, but many in the vicinity. On the point of a low rocky 

 promontory that extends down from the mesa on the west to within a 

 few yards of the circular ruin are some masses of decaying wall, and a 

 large circular depression, not differing in appearance from the usual 

 estufa. 



It is probable that there are other remains higher up on the rocky 

 slope; indeed, others could be seen from the trail, but I found no time 

 to visit them. 



A few hundred yards below the great tower, and very near the trail, 

 a smaller tower occurs, having other ruins connected with it, and in a 

 weather-worn cavity in a massive crag near by is the cosy little dwell- 

 ing shown in Figure 5. 



The rude little fire-place illustrated in Figure 6 was observed by Mr. 

 Brandegee in connection with a cliff-house on the opposite side of the 

 caiion, a little farther up. It is remarkable as being the only example 

 discovered by our party. There seem to be no traces whatever of fire- 

 places, ovens, furnaces, or chimneys in or about any of the ruins 

 described, which is rather remarkable, since fires must have been used 

 in baking pottery and for domestic purposes, and we cannot suppose 

 that a people so well advanced in architectural skill were unable to 

 build fire-places and furnaces. 



PLATE XXXV. — CLIFF-HOUSES OF THE MANGOS. 



This plate illustrates one of the more interesting groups of cliff-houses, 

 or fortresses of the Eio Mancos. It occurs about ten miles from the 

 foot of the caiion in a subordinate cliff on the west side. This low cliff 

 is of massive sandstone, and is washed by the river, the trail being 

 crowded back against the steep wall. At the height of about 40 feet 

 above the river, a bed of shale occurs in the sandstone, which, being 

 easily disintegrated, has been weathered out and carried away, leaving 

 a sort of horizontal groove some 4 feet high and from 4 to 6 feet deep. 

 In this a row of diminutive houses has been built. Three of these are 

 almost perfect, having a fresh new look that certainly belles their age. 

 Four others are much more decayed, and fragments of wall only cling 

 to the cliffs. They have been made to occupy the full height and depth 

 of the crevice, so that when one reaches it at the only accessible point, 

 he is between two houses and must pass through these to get at the 

 others. The door-ways are quite small and bear no evidence of the fit- 

 ting or hanging of doors; and the windows, of which a number open to 

 the front, are but a few inches square. 



The walls are strongly built and are from eight to ten inches thick. 

 The stones are small, dressed roughly on the outside, and laid in mortar. 



In many places the heavier seams of mortar have been chinked with 

 bits of pottery and small flakes of sandstone. The marks of the masons' 

 pick are as fresh as if made within a few years, and the fine, hard mud- 

 mortar which has been applied with the bare hands, still retains impres- 

 sions of the minute markings of the cuticle of the fingers. 



The house at the left hand in the drawing has two apartments, the 



