34 § CAVE AND CLIFF DWELLERS. 
and time to the packers, and allowed one 
to make a much earlier start, as well as to 
omit the long noon camp of the Mexicans. 
In each of the houses was an immense 
fireplace, which, on the arrival of the 
party, was piled with pitch-pine, and a 
most welcome blaze and warmth soon 
thawed out the coldest. 
At the Potrero a church, built by the 
first Jesuits in this country, still remains, 
and is used for devotion by the Indians, 
although roofless and over two hundred 
years old. Standing near the ruined 
door, and looking in, one sees an altar 
surmounted by a cross and a scaffolding 
of flowers. Above this is one of the most 
beautiful pictures ever seen in such a 
peculiar framing. The roofless old 
church reveals the most magnificent 
castellated cliffs to be seen along the 
