COSNINO CAVES.—iRETURN TO THE TRAIN. 81 
appeared to be springs. As grass and fuel were excellent, and as there were good trees for 
shelter, we encamped, having made ten miles. 
Descending one side of the fissure which forms'the canon, we found within the rock quite a 
number of caves in tlie shape of ovens, opening towards the stream. They showed unmistake- 
able signs of volcanic origin. The cavities were regular, and covered with a vitreous substance, 
hard, and brownish-black, like iron. They had been artificially plastered, and some of the 
largest were divided by walled partitions into separate apartments. The principal rooms were 
ten feet across, and where the adobe floor was not covered by debris, the height was about six 
feet. Within, and communicating with these, were smaller caves still more like ovens, and 
doubtless used as dormitories. The walls were laid with care, and the plastering of the ceiling, 
which remained in patches, seemed to have been done rather skilfully. Upon the rocky hill 
above, and in the canon, were fragments of pottery, some painted black and white, others 
indented. The caves seem to have been unoccupied, except perhaps by an occasional visitor, 
for a long period. The entrances to several are choked by heaps of disintegrated rock. Nev¬ 
ertheless, we call them “ Cosnino Caves,” after the tribe that roams over this region. The 
fresh trail of a small party of them has been seen to-day. 
December 20 —Camp 87.—Taking a course about north 60° east, we crossed the arroyo, and re¬ 
crossing below at a large water-hole, passed a small ridge into a valley apparently descending, by 
a gradual slope, north 50° east to Rio Colorado Chiquito. We kept more to the right, and after 
traversing a nearly level prairie, made an abrupt descent over precipitous banks to the river, 
which we reached after a march of seven hours from Cosnino Caves. We struck the river at a 
deserted camp of our party, and were surprised to find that the trail from there turned back¬ 
wards. They had returned a mile and a half to a better place for camping, and were there 
awaiting our arrival. Lieutenant Ives had brought the survey about thirty miles down the 
river, from Camp 82, where we had left the train. The party was in good spirits. Another 
stampede of the mules had occurred. One dark night they took fright, and ran six miles before 
they were stopped. In their flight, some plunged headlong over each other into Canon Diablo, 
and the men in pursuit narrowly escaped -breaking their necks. 
We passed to-day a rocky eminence where were found stone enclosures, apparently intended 
for watch-towers and for defence, similar to those formerly seen near Ojo de la Vaca, between 
Rio del Norte and the Gila. Broken jars were also found, painted in stripes. At the wagon 
camp below are hieroglyphics upon the rocks, representing men and beasts—one of the former 
having a snake about his head. Among other symbols, is one resembling the notched stick 
found at the ancient Zuni altar. 
December 21 —Camp 87.—We have remained in camp to-day in order to rest the weary mules. 
Good grama-grass is found upon the high table-lands. 
Dr. Ivennerly has labored hard to catch a fish in the Little Colorado, and has at last been 
rewarded by a single specimen. Fortunately it is of a new species. 
December 22 —Camp 88.—Turning our backs upon Rio Colorado Chiquito, we travelled south 
60° west nearly direct towards Cosnino Caves. The ascent was gradual, with a generally 
uniform slope, eleven miles, to a point of lava, where we encamped, having risen nearly six 
hundred feet above the river. Our loaded wagons passed without difficulty, and made an 
excellent road. Around camp grama-grass is abundant, and nutritious as usual. The decom¬ 
posed black lava, called in Mexico “mal pais,” affords the best soil for the production of this 
grass. Our camp is without water, though a few miles beyond is an arroyo with alamos and 
willows, generally indicative of a flowing stream. 
December 23 —Camp 89.—We continued our march in the midst of a snow-storm. It was a day 
of toil for the wagon mules, as snow gathered in balls upon their feet, causing them to slip and 
stumble badly. We passed a few small hills, and aft*er fourteen miles’ travel arrived at Cosnino 
Caves, which proved to be between seven and eight hundred feet above our last camp. The 
11 h 
