VALLEY OF OJO PESCADO.—COAL.—RUINS. 
65 
detour to the right; and, entering a long valley whose bed was upon lava, now mostly covered 
with a grassy soil, rolled along fourteen miles to the charming valley of Ojo Pescado, where we 
encamped. This spring hursts from a broken point of the lava bed, and at once becomes a 
pretty stream, glittering with great numbers of the finny tribe which gives name to it. The 
circular wall which once enclosed the fountain head is now partly broken down. Upon either 
side, and almost tangent, are ruins of pueblos so ancient that the traditions of present races do 
not reach them. Probably at the conquest they formed a portion of Cevola, the seven towns of 
which, Coronado says, “all stand within four leagues of each other.” Below, there is a deserted 
town of more modern date. Even now it is occasionally occupied in summer by Zuni Indians, 
while cultivating the well watered valley. The two old pueblos of the spring are nearly circular 
in form, and of equal dimensions. One measured three hundred and fifteen short paces, about 
eight hundred feet, in circumference. They were of stone; but the walls have crumbled, leaving 
only a heap of rubbish. The pottery is similar to that found at the Moro; painted with bright 
colors, in checks, bands, and wavy stripes. Many fragments show a beautiful polish. A few 
pieces were discovered of larger size, inferior in color and quality, but indicating a more fanciful 
taste. United, they formed an urn with a curious handle; a frog painted upon the outside, and 
a butterfly represented upon the inner surface. This is supposed to be of Zuni manufacture. 
It is a singular fact, that, although some of the most time-worn carvings upon rocks are of 
animals and men, ancient pottery contains no such representations. Upon one fragment, 
indeed, found upon Rio Gila, was pictured a turtle, and a piece of pottery picked up near the 
same place was moulded into the form of a monkey’s head. Those appeared to be ancient, and 
afforded exceptions to the rule. These remains having been examined, we followed a footpath 
which led to another fissure of the lava bed, where a sparkling stream, somewhat similar to the 
one described, leaped from its subterranean chasm into life. The lava cliff rises twenty feet 
above the fissure, and a vertical wall joining two points of it, served to enclose the fountain. 
Upon the summit stood the ruins of another pueblo, strongly walled around. Near the centre 
was a mound, with evidences of a circular tower upon the top. Crossing the valley, we explored 
among the sandstone bluffs and boulders for hieroglyphics. Upon one rock were quite a number 
of inscriptions and figures, some of which were copied. 
By penetrating to the foot of the lava bed, water may probably be found throughout the 
valley we have traversed to-day. A few thin veins of bituminous coal were discovered, crojqfing 
out from the bluffs near camp. The specimens seem good, but the quantity is probably small. 
Salts, believed to be potassa, effloresce in considerable abundance from seams in the rocks. The 
soil watered by the springs is a black loam, very fertile. The Indians of Zuni come hither 
every year to cultivate vegetables or grain. 
In one of the old pueblos were found four nicety cut sticks, three and a half inches in length, 
stuck into the ground, and united by a cord, forming a square. Feathers of various colors were 
tied by thongs of bark to the top of each. This had been evidently the scene of some mystic 
rite, but whether of Zunians or Navajoes we could not learn. At 8 p. m. the strong west wind 
suddenly veered round, becoming milder and more pleasant. A gentle breeze now fans the 
camp fires. The sky is cloudless, and the atmosphere so pure that stars gleam with a bril¬ 
liancy unknown upon the Atlantic coast. 
The fish caught in Ojo Pescado prove to be of a new species. Dr. Kennerly, of late, has 
been quite successful in collections of birds, fishes, and quadrupeds. 
November 20— Camp 10.—Morning broke upon us bright, clear, and cold, the thermometer 
at sunrise reading 9°.7 Fahrenheit. 
Following Rio Pescado, about two miles from camp the recent ruins, before referred to, 
appeared upon our right. Allowing the survey to pass on, two of us crossed the rapid stream, 
and ascended stone steps that led to the plaza. The village was compactly built, but the houses 
were of ruder construction than any before seen, being composed of loose stones piled up singly 
without mortar. Some were yet entire, and evidently used by herders and laborers of the 
9 h 
