402 REPORT UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



time, evidence that they do is not wanting. Some are found on the 

 clifis and in the niches with the cliif-dwellings, while all are in localities 

 that must have been frequently visited by these people. Some are 

 found in the caiion of the Mancos, others on the bluffs of the San Juan, 

 and many in the caiions farther west. 



Figures 1, 2, and 3, Plate XLII, occur on the Mancos near the group 

 of cliff-houses figured in Plate XXXVl. They are chipj)ed into the rock, 

 evidently by some very hard implement, and rudely represent the 

 human figure. They are certainly not attempts to represent nature, 

 but have the appearance rather of arbitrary forms designed to symbolize 

 some imaginary being. 



Figures 4, 5, and 6 were found in the same locality, not engraved, but 

 painted in red and white clay upon the smooth rocks. These were cer- 

 tainly done by the cliff-builders, and probably while the houses were in 

 process of construction, since the material used is identical with the 

 plaster of the houses. The sketches and notes were made by Mr. Bran- 

 degee. The reproduction is approximately one-twelfth the size of the 

 original. 



The examples given in Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, as well as those in 

 Plate XLIir, occur on the Kio San Juan about 10 miles below the mouth 

 of the Eio La Plata. A low line of bluff's, composed of light-colored 

 massive sandstones, that break down in great smooth-faced blocks, rises 

 from the river-level and sweeps around toward the north. Each of these 

 great blocks has offered a very tempting tablet to the graver of the 

 primitive artist, and many of tliem contain curious and interesting in- 

 scriptions. Drawings were made of such of these as the limited time at 

 my disposal would permit. They are all engraved or cut into the face 

 of the rock, and the whole body of each figure has generally been chipped 

 out, frequently to the depth of one-fourth or one-half an inch. 



The work on some of the larger groups has been one of immense 

 labor, and must owe its completion to strong and enduring motives. 

 With a very few exceptions the engraving bears undoubted evidence of 

 age. Such new figures as occur are quite easily distinguished, both by 

 the freshness of the chipped surfaces and by the designs themselves. 

 Figure 11 gives a specimen of the modern work ; it is evidently intended 

 to represent a horse, and is done in the manner of the I^avajoes. It 

 will readily be seen that among all the figures given of the ancient 

 work there is no animal that resembles a horse, and we can hardly sup- 

 pose that artists who could so cleverly delineate birds and deer and men, 

 would fail in an attempt to represent an animal of so marked a charac- 

 ter. The curious designs given in Figure 10 have a very perceptible 

 resemblance to many of the figures used in the embellishment of pot- 

 tery. 



The most striking group observed is given in Figure 1, Plate XLTII. It 

 consists of a great procession of men, birds, beasts, and fanciful figures. 

 The whole picture as placed upon the rock is highly spirited, and the 

 idea of a general movement toward the right, skilfully portrayed. A 

 pair of winged figures hover above the train as if to watch or direct its 

 movements ; behind these are a number of odd figures, followed by an 

 antlered animal resembling a deer, which seems to be drawing a notched 

 sledge containing two figures of men. The figures forming the main 

 body of the procession appear to be tied together in a condnuous line, 

 and in form resemble one living creature about as little as another. 

 Many of the smaller figures above and below are certainly intended to 

 represent dogs, while a number of men are stationed about, here and 

 there, as if to keep the procession in order. 



