[120] The dimensions given by Gen. J. H. Simpson, Reconnoissance, etc., pp. 79-82, of the pueblos—"Pintado," "Bonito," and "Peñasca blanca"—on the Rio Chaco vary, as far as the circuit is concerned, between 1,200 and 1,700 feet, "about." Dr. W. H. Jackson, Geographical Survey, etc., 1876, has measured these ruins, and gives the following dimensions: "Pueblo Bonito," 544 × 314; "Peñasca blanca," 499 × 363 (only 3 sides of the rectangle being built up); "Pueblo Pintado" (2 sides), 238 × 174; "Pueblo Alto" (3 wings), 360 × 200 and 170. "Pueblo Bonito" therefore alone comes up to the standard of Pecos. The latter, however, is larger still, as, by adding to the perimeter given that of the northern annex (about 90 m.—295 ft.), we obtain a total of 450 metres, or 1,480 feet. The difference, if any, is not considerable; and I merely advert to the fact to show that the old ruins of New Mexico, comparatively neglected, are fully as important in size as any of those further north, besides being completely identical in plan, structure, and material. Furthermore, the pottery is identical. This was already recognized in 1776 by Father Silvestre Velez Escalante, Diario y Derrotero de los Nuevos Descubrimientos de Tierras á Rumbos N. N. Oe. Oe. del Nuevo México, MSS. at the Library of Congress, fol. 118, on the San Buenaventura (Green River), and in his letter, dated Santa Fé, 2 April, 1778, Documentos para la Historia de México, 3a série, vol. i. p. 124.
[121] On the Ruins of an Ancient Stone Pueblo on the Animas River, Peabody Reports, 11 and 12.
[122] I must here call attention to a singular coincidence. Among the ruins of Uxmal in Yucatan there are, aside from the "Teocalli," or medicine mound, two general forms of structure,—one narrow rectangle like B, and hollow rectangles like A. The "Casa del Gobernador" would correspond to the former, and the "Casa de las Monjas" to the latter. Of course, there is dissimilarity between the house of the "Governor" and B, in so far as the former contains halls and the latter but cells. Still the fact is interesting that, whereas the great northern pueblos have each but one house alone, here, for the south, we have already two buildings within one and the same enclosure, similar in form and size to those of Central America. I call attention to this fact, though well remembering at the same time the friendly advice of Major J. W. Powell, the distinguished chief of the Bureau of Ethnology at Washington, "not to attempt to trace relationships."
[123] Relation du Voyage de Cibola, ii. cap. v. p. 176.
[124] I am informed by Governor Wallace, and have permission to quote him, that these elevated plateaux grow exceedingly tall wheat, rye, and oats. He has seen oats whose stalks were 6 feet long and 1¾ inches in diameter. The heads were proportionally large.
[125] He became adopted, as I am told, from being, as a boy, assistant to the sacristan of the church of Pecos.
[126] It was Mr. John D. McRae who, together with Mr. Thomas Munn, led me to this spot. Subsequently the former, who has been for nearly twenty years among the northern Indians (in Canada and Oregon), gave me some valuable information in regard to their sign-language. He affirms that it is very highly developed and extensively practised by them; that tribes of entirely different stock-languages can converse with each other freely; and that he was himself present at one time when the Crees and the Blackfeet arranged for a pitched fight on the day to follow, the parley consisting almost exclusively of signs. Thus, killing is indicated by the spanning of a bow and the motion of throwing down; walking, by shoving both hands forwards successively, etc.; the time of day is very correctly given by describing an arc from E. to W. (facing S.) up to the point where the sun stands at the specified hour. These signs are not new to my distinguished friend, Lieutenant-Colonel G. Mallery, to whom science owes the gift of this new branch of inquiry, but still they are interesting to those who may be less familiar with it. In regard to connection of this "sign-language" and Indian "pictography," Mr. McRae has told me the following: Whenever an Indian breaks up his camp, and wishes to leave behind him information in what direction and how far he is going, he plants into the ground near the fire a twig or stick, and breaks it so that it forms an acute angle, planting the other end in the ground also in the direction in which he intends to camp the following evening. The following would very well give the appearance of this little mark, assuming the Indian to travel from N. to S.:—
If he intends to go S. for three days it will look thus:—
