IN THE SIERRA MADRE RANGE. 233 
ascending smoke from the highest point 
of entrance to the cave. If the cave has 
been abandoned for any length of time 
the rain soon wipes out this sure sign of 
habitation. We passed a large number 
of caves with funnel-shaped smoke stains, 
leading up from the outside, but the 
silence of death surrounded them, as if 
human life had never been within a mile 
of the place ; but I have not the remotest 
