APPENDIX SS. 1779 



Possessing but a single running affluent, Cherry Creek, coming from the west, it has 

 considerable fall in its upper and central part. Its lower section, where the river is 

 tortuous and sluggish, belongs to that already described in connection with the lower 

 Animas and San Juan, received numbers of immigrants during last season. Like the 

 Animas, the valley of this stream is comparatively narrow and confined, the boundary of 

 rock being sharp and frequently vertical cliffs. Within, the same fertility and rich- 

 ness of the soil obtains on proper irrigation, instanced by the luxuriance of the unculti- 

 vated growth immediately adjoining the waters. The fertility and beauty of this 

 stream has always been fully appreciated by the Indians, large numbers of Utes, as 

 has been their wont, being encamped upon it during the fall. Many a growl will be 

 heard before their removal is consummated. 



THE MANCOS. 



The Rio Mancos, or, supplying the ellipsis, the Eio de los Mancos, signifies the River 

 of the Maimed, i. e., lacking one or both hands. Its Spanish origin is unknown ; 

 whether or not it was due to such outrages upon settlers or travelers along its banks 

 by hostile Indians, we are not aware. It has of late years gained notoriety from the 

 reports of scientific explorers touching the cliff-houses and other vestiges of the dense 

 population that once dwelt along its banks. 



This stream rises in the La Plata Mountains, on the western slope of the ridge, and 

 near by the La Plata itself. After coursing to the west and south, not far distant, it 

 makes a great swing to the southwest and crosses the Colorado line over 40 miles west 

 of the latter stream, emptying into the San Juan over 60 miles lower down the river 

 than the La Plata, 



The two branches of this stream, sometimes mapped as the North and South forks, are 

 locally called the East and West, but erroneously, as the western body of water is the 

 main stream, the other being but a tributary of scarcely half its length. The latter 

 was, in September, 10 feet in width by 4 inches, the other being deeper and 15 feet in 

 width. 



With a rapid fall and greater length, the river is more than 2,000 feet lower than the 

 La Plata at Parrott; it has also a less altitude than the Animas at Animas City. As 

 might, therefore, be conjectured, it is a valuable agricultural section, of which it gives 

 promise in having been formerly the seat of habitation of a dense population, whose 

 vestiges indicate their peaceful habits and devotion to agricultural pursuits. 



The Mesa Verde is a portion of the general plateau country, extending from the 

 mountain's base to the south, west, and northwest. 



This formation is of a sedimentary nature, and in its ago belongs to the Cretaceous 

 period. The highest exposed masses, formed during long periods of subsidence and 

 Avhich have since been elevated, are massive sandstones, brilliant yellow on close ap- 

 proach, best seen in the lower canon of the Animas, where they are exposed vertically 

 for over 1,200 feet. Underlying the upper sandstones are series of varying strata, 

 mainly of dark shales, with alternating bands of sandstones, clays, and limestones, 

 which, subjected to no violent action since original deposition, have preserved their 

 original parallelism. They may, with finest landscapic effect, be best observed upon the 

 lower Animas. This second series being softer than the upper sandstones, which them- 

 selves present but little resistance to atmospheric action, are rapidly denuded and worn 

 from the rocks upon which they are superposed, the lowest and oldest series of the 

 period. With the erosion of the upper sandstones covering them, the underlying 

 shales are rapidly denuded in large areas extending underneath the upper rocks, 

 which, deprived of suport, fall in masses, leaving vertical cliffs or overhanging rocks. 

 Canons, therefore, formed herein would be, in their upper parts, vertical or overhang- 

 ing masses of sandstone, and below in steps or narrow benches, grading to the top as 

 successively the softer shales are met by the harder but narrower stratifications. 



This mesa, composed of the Middle and Upper series of this geological period, covers 

 an area of hundreds of miles, largely in the Indian reservation, and extends down to 

 near the San Juan, where it towers to a height of 2,000 feet, and presents the same 

 characteristics as the similar formation seen on the Piedra, the Lower Pinos, and Ani- 

 mas; steep escarpments of sandstone, almost vertical walls, sparse vegetation, its for- 

 estry limited and dwarfed, a region in all respects far from attractive, from which 

 agriculture is banished. 



Ascending it from the Animas to the La Plata at Parrott City, we find the stream 

 here in an elevated bed, the general surface not deeply eroded. Its western boundary 

 is near by, and from this point a fine and most extended view is obtained of the great 

 ocean-like surface to the west, upon whose shore or banks high up we stand. Spread 

 out before us its level is broken only by the distant tops of the Sierra Carriza in the 

 Arizona corner, a little less than a thousand feet higher than our position ; Vte Mount- 

 ain, still loftier and nearer, in Colorado ; and beyond, in Utah, the Sierra Abajo ; and 

 far to the northwest, but dimly seen, the tops of the Sierra la Sal, rising to 12,000 and 

 13,000 feet. 



