68 EXPLORATION OF THE CANONS OF THE COLORADO. 
down through a very narrow canon, and beyond it, to the southwest, there 
is a long line of cliffs, with a broad ten-ace, or bench, between it and the 
brink of the cafion, and beyond these cliffs is situated the range of mount 
ains seen as we came down Narrow Canon. 
Looking up the Colorado, the chasm through which it rwns can be seen, 
but we cannot look down on its waters. The whole country is a region of 
naked rock, of many colors, with cliffs and buttes about us, and towering 
mountains in the distance. 
July 29. We enter a canon to-day, with low, red walls. A short dis 
tance below its head we discover the ruins of an old building, on the left wall. 
There is a narrow plain between the river and the wall just here, and on 
the brink of a rock two hundred feet high stands this old house. Its walls 
are of stone, laid in mortar, with much regularity. It was probably built 
three stories high; the lower story is yet almost intact; the second is much 
broken down, and scarcely anything is left of the third. Great quantities 
of flint chips are found on the rocks near by, and many arrow heads, some 
perfect, others broken ; and fragments of pottery are strewn about in great 
profusion. On the face of the cliff, under the building, and along down the 
river, for two or three hundred yards, there are many etchings. Two hours 
are given to the examination of these interesting ruins, then we run down 
fifteen miles farther, and discover another group. The principal building was 
situated on the summit of the hill. A part of the walls are standing, to the 
height of eight or ten feet, and the mortar yet remains, in some places. The 
house was in the shape of an L, with five rooms on the ground floor, one in 
the angle, and two in each extension. In the space in the angle, there is a 
deep excavation. From what we know of the people in the province of 
Tusayan, who are, doubtless, of the same race as the former inhabitants of 
these ruins, we conclude that this was a "kiva," or underground chamber, 
in which their religious ceremonies were performed. 
We leave these ruins, and run down two or three miles, and go into 
camp about mid-afternoon. And now I climb the wall and go out into the 
back country for a walk. 
The sandstone, through which the canon is cut, is red and homogeneous, 
being the same as that through which Labyrinth Canon runs. The smooth, 
