THE CLIFF VILLAGES OF THE RED ROCK COUNTRY. 559 



dently here we have an opportunity to test the legends by archaeological 

 research. 1 We can visit the sites of villages claimed by the ancients 

 and find out if the evidence supports the legends of the present Molds, 

 or whether the stories are true or false. The present article is therefore 

 a report on an attempt to apply archaeological methods to the verifica- 

 tion of legendary histories, which was the main thought in mind when 

 I entered upon my explorations in Arizona. 



The Tusayan villagers are divided into several phratries, each com- 

 posed of a number of gentes. One of these phratries is called the 

 Patki or Water House people, whose legends are very definite that 

 they came from the far south, which is called Palatkwabi, Red Land. 

 The situation of this mythic land is a matter of conjecture, but it was 

 thought that an examination of the country at or near the headwaters 

 of the Rio Verde and its tributaries west of south from the present 

 villages of Tusayan and due south of some of their ruined towns might 

 shed light on this tradition. 



A complemental fragment of Pima folklore in southern Arizona con- 

 nects the numerous ruins of the Gila Valley, of which Oasa Grande is 

 the best known, with the ancestors of the Tusayan Indians; and as the 

 tradition which has been mentioned declares that their ancestors came 

 from the far south, we have a correspondence in traditions which, to 

 say the least, is highly suggestive. That archaeology might give valu- 

 able information on the theory of former connection of northern and 

 southern prehistoric peoples of Arizona had long been my conviction, 

 and was the main influence which led to the choice of this field for 

 exploration, of which this report is a preliminary record. 



THE RED ROCK COUNTRY. 



An examination of a map of Arizona will show that one of the most 

 natural pathways or feasible routes of migration between the southern 

 Arizonian prehistoric peoples of the vicinity of Casa Grande and the 

 northern, north and south, would be along the valley of the Rio Verde. 

 Oak Creek, a tributary of this stream, rises in the neighborhood of 

 ruins whose inhabitants were ancestors of the Tusayan Indians, and 

 empties, through the Verde, into the Gila not far from the great ruins 

 which mark the center of the flourishing aboriginal population of 

 southern Arizona. Along the banks of this stream was a natural high- 

 way, which presents favorable conditions for migration. My problem 

 was to examine this roadway to see whether or not there are archaeo- 

 logical evidences of former habitations. 



Exploration of the antiquities of this region had gone far enough to 



1 As this paper is about to go to press (September, 1896), reports have been received, 

 from Dr. Fewkes regarding his recent excavations at the prehistoric Moki pueblo of 

 Homolobi, near Winslow, Ariz., which fully bear out his statement of nearly a year 

 previously and testify to the accuracy of the native traditions concerning the settle- 

 ment of the Moki at the place named prior to their occupancy of the present villages 

 of Tusayan. — Editor. 



