The Cliff Ruins of Canyon de Chelly, Arizona | Page 9

and so gradually pushes its way farther and farther
down the canyon. But some sections, less exposed to warmth than
others, retain their ice during the day. These points are flooded by the
water from above, which is again frozen during the night and again
flooded the next day, and so on. In a short time great fields of smooth
ice are formed, which render travel on horseback very difficult and
even dangerous. This, and the scant grazing afforded by the bottom
lands in winter, doubtless is the cause of the annual migration of the
Navaho; but these conditions would not materially affect a people
living in the canyon who did not possess or were but scantily supplied
with horses and sheep. The stream when it is flowing is seldom more
than a foot deep, generally only a few inches, except in times of flood,
when it becomes a raging torrent, carrying everything before it. Hence

irrigation would be impracticable, even if its principles were known,
nor is it essential here to successful horticulture.
One of the characteristic features of the canyons at the present day is
the immense number of peach trees within them. Wherever there is a
favorable site, in some sheltered cove or little branch canyon, there is a
clump of peach trees, in some instances perhaps as many as 1,000 in
one "orchard." When the peaches ripen, hundreds and even thousands
of Navaho flock to the place, coming from all over the reservation, like
an immense flock of vultures, and with disastrous results to the food
supply. A few months after it is difficult to procure even a handful of
dried fruit. The peach trees are, of course, modern. They were
introduced into this country originally by the Spanish monks, but in De
Chelly there are not more than two or three trees which are older than
the last Navaho war. At that time, it is said, the soldiers cut down every
peach tree they could find. But, aside from the peaches, De Chelly was
until recently the great agricultural center of the Navaho tribe, and large
quantities of corn, melons, pumpkins, beans, etc, were and are raised
there every year. Under modern conditions many other localities now
vie with it, and some surpass it in output of agricultural products, but
not many years ago De Chelly was regarded as the place par
excellence.
It will be clear, therefore, that prior to very recent times De Chelly
would be selected by almost any tribe moving across the country, and,
barring a hostile prior occupancy, would be the most desirable place for
the pursuit of horticultural operations for many miles in any direction.
The vicinity of the Tunicha mountains, which could be reached in half
a day from any part of the canyons, and which must have abounded in
game, for even now some is found there, would be a material advantage.
The position of the canyon in the heart of the plateau country and of the
ancient pueblo region would make it a natural stopping place during
any migratory movement either north and south or east and west, and
its settlement was doubtless due to this favorable position and to the
natural advantages it offered. This settlement was effected probably not
by one band or tribe, nor at one time, but by many bands at many times.
Probably the first settlements were very old; certainly the last were very

recent.

CLASSIFICATION AND DESCRIPTIONS
RUINS OF THE PUEBLO REGION
No satisfactory general classification of the ruins of the ancient pueblo
region has yet been made; possibly because the material in hand is not
sufficiently abundant. There are thousands of ruins scattered over the
southwest, of many different types which merge more or less into each
other. In 1884 Mr A. F. Bandelier, whose knowledge of the archeology
of the southwest is very extensive, formulated a classification, and in
1892, in his final report,[11] he announces that he has nothing to
change in it. The classification is as follows:
I. Large communal houses several stories high.
(a) Composed of one or two, seldom three, extensive buildings,
generally so disposed as to surround an interior court.
(b) Polygonal pueblos.
(c) Scattered pueblos, composed of a number of large many-storied
houses, disposed in a more or less irregular manner; sometimes in
irregular squares or on a line.
(d) Artificial caves, resembling in number, size, and disposition of the
cells the many-storied communal dwelling.
(e) Many-storied dwellings, with artificial walls, erected inside of
natural caves of great size.
II. Detached family dwellings, either isolated or in groups forming
villages.
[Footnote 11: Arch. Inst. of America, 5th Ann. Rept., p. 55; and Arch.
Inst. of America, Papers, American series, IV, p. 27.]

Many hundreds of ruins have been examined by Mr Bandelier, and
doubtless