HOFFMAN.] ETHNOGRAPHIC OBSERVATIONS. 475 



of about 40 or 50 feet. These walls are literally covered with carvings, 

 resembling those found in the mountains just named. 



The next locality which I found to bear any relics of this sort was on 

 the trail from Peach Springs to Bill Williams Mountain, Arizona ; the 

 most prominent one being portion of a small basaltic colnmu jirotruding 

 from the surface, upon which was the representation of a sun, besides 

 other odd characters. The former was composed of a circle about 3 

 inches in diameter, about an inch bej'ond the periphery of which were 

 seven or eight lines radiating from it. Some of these lines were nearly 

 obliterated, and could only be distinguished upon the closest scrutiny. 

 That side of column bearing any characters whatever faced the east. 



I do not believe that all of these pictographic remains have anything 

 to do with historical records. Many of the children of the Pah-Utes in 

 Southern Kevada are in the habit of chipping upon large stones such 

 figures as may strike their fancy. Upon the hard flat sand-beds near 

 Spring Mountain our whole outfit was recorded in this way. Mr. W. H. 

 Jackson, of your Survey, states that the Zuui children x)ass their time in 

 cutting and chipping various characters and figures upon the rocks. 

 His experience and investigations among the various tribes of New 

 Mexico and adjacent regions is entitled to some considerations, at least 

 in this respect. 



The accompanying drawings illustrate some rock-cuttings made by 

 the Coyot^ros, and found near Camp Apache. They are modern, and 

 show their mode of conveying ideas. The principal figure represents a 

 pack-mule. The four lines beneath show the additional number of ani- 

 mals used for this purpose, connected with the same train. The star is 

 intended to represent the sun, the accompanying number of spots rep- 

 resent the number of suns or days the party spent in the territory of the 

 Coyoteros. The pictograph was not intended as a record, but was made 

 for pastime and the want of better occupation. The remains of an ex- 

 tensive occupation of the territory became apparent in the region from 

 Postal's Eanch southward for a distance of about 15 miles toward 

 Prescott. This valley is about 10 miles broad in the middle, and through- 

 out the entire western portion of it are found small flattened elevations 

 of earth containing numerous fragments of pottery. These heaps of 

 debris appear to be the remains of ancient adobe dwellings, which were 

 located from 20 to 40 feet apart in all directions. Along the western 

 ridge can be traced an arroyo or water-ditch, which is at this day at 

 least 40 feet above the level of any springs or streams. This canal can 

 be traced northward, but not beyond the limits of the valley itself. 

 North of the valley are large beds of dried-up streams, which were no 

 doubt the source from which water was obtained for irrigation. It has 

 been supposed that the climatic changes were brought about by some 

 geological convulsions, which resulted in the gradual sterility and de- 

 population of this ancient region. Pacts, which become more apparent 

 every day in other countries, indicate rather that this former people 

 caused their own destruction, unconsciously, by the dehoscation of the 

 regions thus affected. In other places throughout Arizona and New 

 Mexico, where we find the remains of large settlements and towns, we 

 have evidences of large water-courses filled with sand and rounded 

 pebbles and bowlders, showing that the country must have been excel- 

 lent for agriculture in remote times. Here, where the country is undu- 

 lating or hilly, and geologically perfect for the growth of forests, we 

 find nothing but a few stunted cedars, pines, or cottonwoods. Cedar 

 rafters examined in some of the cliff remains indicate trees of large sizej 



