the 
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1877.]' The Ancient and Modern Pueblo Tribes. 593 
Juan River). Here they built houses in the caves and cliffs ; 
erected fortresses, watch-towers, and store-houses ; and dug reser- 
voirs to supply themselves with water. After a prolonged battle 
their enemies were repulsed ; but the conquerors retired to the 
deserts of Arizona and settled on the high bluffs of that region, 
where their posterity, the Moquis, live to this day. 
Accounts of this people, orally transmitted from father to son, 
exist among the Ute Indians of Southern Colorado, to the same 
effect. They claim to be the descendants of the race which con- 
quered the builders of these pueblos. They evidently believe 
that the architects were ancient Moquis, and if asked who origi- 
nated these ruins will invariably answer, “ Moquitch.” I had 
some curiosity in regard to the opinions of the Ute Indians on 
this point, and availed myself of every opportunity to make in- 
quiries. I asked one old warrior who built the houses around us, 
and his reply was, “ Moquitch.” Of another who sat watching 
us intently as we made some excavations, I inquired what people 
were buried here, to which he answered, as usual, “ Mogquitch.” 
From several Indians of separate bands I received the same re- 
ply in regard to the pottery, arrow heads, etc., and I soon discov- 
ered that this was at least the prevalent belief throughout the 
whole tribe. 
The Navajos are said to possess traditions of the same nature 
telative to the aboriginal people; but I was unable to gain any 
Information from those we met in Arizona. 
Tam led to think from the many evidences which are presented 
to us that the original people retired from the north southward. 
supposition agrees with the traditions of the natives and is 
Supported by the general appearance of the remains. Those 
farthest north are in the greatest state of decay, while as we ad- 
vance southward they are much better preserved. Through 
ew Mexico and down into the southern part of Arizona the 
ruins of buildings and pottery possess a more recent appearance, 
and there can be no doubt that these (south of the Pueblos, Mo- 
qus, and Zuñis) are, to a certain extent, of comparatively late 
date, extending back, perhaps, only to about the first quarter of 
sixteenth century, when the Spaniards marched across the — 
try. Many of the ruins along the Gila and in the neighbor- 
e Pueblo tribes of New Mexico are simply the remains _ 
of a century or two, although in some localities they are much 
older. "There can be not the least doubt, however, that all north 
VOL. xI. — xo, 10, 38 
