NORTHWESTERN NEW MEXICO. 355 



to the level of the causeway already mentioned. Here are five more 

 ruined buildings of the same average size as the others, interrupted by but 

 one short interval.* 



From this depression, that part of the hog-back which is north of the 

 causeway rises abruptly in a perpendicular face. It is composed princi- 

 pally of two layers of the sandstone, dipping at 45° W., which are separated 

 by a deep cavity from a point 15 feet from the base upward. This niche 

 has been appropriated for a habitation, for it is walled to a height of 8 feet 

 from its base. The foot of the wall is quite inaccessible, but b} r climbing 

 round the eastern face of the precipice a ledge is found at the base of the 

 projecting stratum, which forms the east wall of the inclosure. This was 

 scaled by means of a staircase of stones, a number of which were in posi- 

 tion at the time of my visit. The remaining portion of the hog-back is 

 elevated and smooth, and the foundation-stones only of several houses re- 

 main. One of these contain two stout posts, of which 4 feet remain above 

 ground ; the last house is near the end of the ridge, and is bounded by a 

 wall 10 feet in height, which forms its western side. 



The walls of these houses are built with a mortar of mud, mixed in 

 many cases at least with ashes, judging from the abundant specks of char- 

 coal which it contains. It is not of good quality, and has weathered much 

 from between the stones. I could not discover any indications of the de- 

 struction of the houses by fire either on the stones or the cedar posts. The 

 latter doubtless lost by weathering such indications, had they existed, and 

 the combustion of the entire contents of such small domiciles could have 

 effected their stone walls but little. I found no remains of bones of animals 

 or men about them. 



This town I called Cristone. The same hog-back recommences a little 

 more than a mile to the north, rising to a greater elevation, say 600 or 700 

 feet above the valley. The east side is perpendicular, while the dip of the 

 west side is C0°, and sometimes even a higher angle. On this almost inac- 

 cessible crest I could see from the valley the walls of ruined stone build- 

 ings, such as I have just described ; but unfortunately my limited time 



* Iu the Report of the Chief of Engineers from which this paper is taken, several illustrations 

 are given, showing the form and position of the houses described by Professor Cope. I regret that 

 the cuts cannot be reproduced here. — P. W. P. 



