358 



ANCIENT POPULATION IN 



nas Creek, the nearest permanent water. In some of these localities the 

 summits of the hills had been eroded to a narrow keel, destroying the foun- 

 dations of the former buildings. In no locality did I observe inscriptions 

 on the rocks or other objects, which were, probably, the work of the 

 builders of these stone towns; but I give a copy of figures (Fig. 135) which 



$3s5i8S5< A\-3§SiF 





Fig. 13S. — Rock-carvings on the Rio Chama. 



I found on the side of a ravine near to Abiquiu, on the river Chama. They 

 are cut in Jurassic sandstone of medium hardness, and are quite worn and 

 overgrown with the small lichen which is abundant on the face of the rock. 

 I know nothing respecting their origin. 



It is evident that the region of the Gallinas was once as thickly inhab- 

 ited as are now the more densely populated portions of the Eastern States. 

 The number of buildings in a square mile of that region is equal to if not 

 greater than the number now existing in the more densely populated rural 

 districts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Whether this is the case to the 

 south and west I do not know, as I was unable to devote the necessary time 

 to the examination. I found, however, that without investigation it is very 

 easy to pass the ruins by unnoticed, since their elevated positions, ruinous 

 condition, and concealment by vegetation, render them almost invisible to 

 the passing traveler. In general, I may say that the number of ruins I 

 found was in direct proportion to the attention I gave the matter; where I 

 looked for them I invariably found them in suitable situations. 



