66 
RIO DE ZUNI.— SACRED SPRING. 
valley. The plaza was converted into numerous corrals* for sheep and goats. The entrance 
to the dwellings was by a ladder, or rather post, cut into steps, and inclined to rest upon the 
roof. From thence, through a hole, a similar stair led down to the interior. Some of the con¬ 
tiguous buildings contained a second story, having a door to communicate with the neighboring 
azotea,f and a fireplace above, the room below being for the stores of grain, &c. The walls 
were thin, the vigas (rafters) small; and the pueblo, though perhaps containing a hundred 
houses, showed nothing of the labor and skill displayed in the construction of the ancient 
strongholds at the springs and at the Moro. Fragments of pottery were strewn around, differ¬ 
ing but little from those previously described. A piece of volcanic scoria was found, ground 
into a symmetrical form, probably a metate—the first seen among the ruins; also an axe made 
of greenstone, nicely grooved and beautifully polished, like those found at Chichilticale and the 
Casas Montezuma, on Rio Salinas. These had doubtless been gathered from the ancient ruins, 
and seemed, like the pottery, to link the wanderers of this region to those who journeyed far¬ 
ther south. 
Leaving this place, we descended the valley of Rio Pescado—which was soon lost beneath the 
lava—eight miles, to where it reissued as Rio de Zuhi, augmented by Rio Nutria from the north. 
Passing a fertile basin, we encamped at its entrance into a gorge; where, twelve miles from Ojo 
Pescado, spurs from the mesas came down to the river. The descent was four hundred and 
twenty feet, averaging thirty-five feet per mile. For the last two days no timber has made its 
appearance. Scrub cedars and pinons upon the mesa slopes have furnished sufficient fuel. 
Upon the brow of the northern mesa, which terminates in cliffs of black metamorphic rock, 
with large masses of the same piled up in the valley below, stand what are called the ranchos 
of Zuhi. In construction and appearance they resemble the deserted town upon Ojo Pescado. 
Nothing of interest was found there. They seem to be used merely as a watch-tower, and a 
shelter for shepherds and their flocks. The view is extensive; overlooking the table-lands in 
every direction. Westward sweeps the wide valley of the river, and at the distance of about 
a league is seen the dark pueblo of Zuhi. Towards the south a lofty mesa, with precipitous 
cliffs apparently encompassing it, lifts itself proudly from the plain to the height of a thousand 
feet. There, it is said, are the ruins of old Zuhi. 
Below the ranchos, upon both sides of the valley, springs issue from the rocks, and water 
numerous patches of cultivated gardens. A few hundred yards above, a singular fountain was 
discovered : it was from ten to twelve feet in diameter, and of a greater depth than we had the 
means of measuring. Enclosing it was an adobe wall, about four feet high, upon the top of 
which were ranged a row of inverted jars; that, glistening in the sunlight, first attracted our at¬ 
tention some half a mile distant. Many of them were white, well proportioned, and of elegant 
forms. Upon their inner and outward surfaces they were curiously painted to represent frogs, 
tadpoles, tortoises, butterflies, and rattlesnakes. All were brittle from age; some being divested 
of the plaster ornaments which they had possessed, and others covered with a coating of lime 
that nearly concealed the painting. The artist made a sketch of the place, and some of the 
vases were taken to be preserved as specimens. J 
November 21 —Camp 10.—It being necessary to await the arrival of Lieut. Jones and Mr. 
Campbell from Fort Defiance, the computations and plots have been recommenced. The bota¬ 
nist and geologist employ the time in making explorations in the vicinity, though little of 
interest seems to reward their labors. The surrounding mesas are of new red sandstone. It is 
not the season for flowers, and even the cactacete droop. The naturalist, however, is reaping a 
rich harvest, finding new varieties both of birds and fishes. 
The governor of Zuhi has paid us a ceremonial visit. We made inquiries regarding the 
country west from Zuhi, and towards the Moqui nation ; telling him that our government 
* Enclosures for animals. 
f Elat roof of a house. 
+ We afterwards learned that the Indians considered this spring sacred. 
