296 CAVE AND CLIFF DWELLERS. 
in an empty cigar box at his side, to be 
handed to the Indian mail carrier on his 
next trip out of Urique. 
Our stay was unexpectedly prolonged 
by the illness of one of the party. It 
was the warmest season of the year in the 
deep tropical barranca, and the change 
from the cool mountain air of the high 
sierras was extremely trying to all. We 
found it was necessary to make an effort 
to bestir ourselves as far as sightseeing 
was concerned, but we dared to venture 
out only after sunset from our comfort¬ 
able quarters in the thick adobe building. 
There was no twilight in the great canon. 
Almost as soon as the sun disappeared 
behind the steep mountains darkness 
came ; but the moonlight nights were 
simply glorious, transforming the tropical 
valley into a perfect fairyland ; even the 
