174 
EVENTS AT 
geometric figure, I copied while resting in the same 
position secluded from the burning sun. 
In a deep cleft in the rock, on the south side of the 
road which we followed for one hundred and fifty feet 
into the interior, were many bones of wild beasts. 
Near this the hills expand, forming an amphitheatre, 
which is celebrated from its being the place where the 
Apaches used formerly to hold their councils, and the 
scene of a contest between them and the Mexicans. 
The Indians had been committing some depredations 
and murders in the settlements, and, being pursued, 
were traced to the Vfaco Mountains. A party set off 
from El Paso, and surprised them in the narrow space 
or amphitheatre alluded to. The besieged retreated 
as far as possible ; and finding no chance to escape, 
they built a wall across the entrance, which is about 
one hundred feet from one perpendicular mass of rock 
to the other. Here they were kept several days, when 
they were finally overcome, and all, to the number of 
a hundred and fifty, put to death. 
In the afternoon we walked about two miles to the 
centre of the plain, which is bounded on the west by 
the great Waco Mountain, to some singular piles of 
rocks, which attracted our attention when passing 
through here in November, but were too far off the 
road for us to examine them at the time. At the 
distance of half a mile, they appear like the ruined 
walls of some great edifice ; and when first discovered, 
all exclaimed, “Ruins! ” On reaching them, we found 
them to be upheaved masses of reddish granite, 
blackened by the weather, so as to present, in their 
detached position in the plain, a strong resemblance 
