Colorado River (Colo.-Mexico); Grand Canyon (Ariz.); United States -- Discovery and exploration
spring gushes out, and thus made their sites for gardens. It is possible
that the ancient inhabitants of this place made their agricultural
lands in the same way. But why should they seek such spots'? Surely the
country was not so crowded with people as to demand the utilization of
so barren a region. The only solution suggested of the problem is this:
We know that for a century or two after the settlement of Mexico many
expeditious were sent into the country now comprising Arizona and New
Mexico, for the purpose of bringing the town-building people under
the dominion of the Spanish government. Many of their villages were
destroyed, and the inhabitants fled to regions at that time unknown; and
there are traditions among the people who inhabit the pueblos that
still remain that the canyons were these unknown lauds. It may be these
buildings were erected at that time; sure it is that they have a much
more modern appearance than the ruins scattered over Nevada, Utah,
Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. Those old Spanish conquerors had
a monstrous greed for gold and a wonderful lust for saving souls.
Treasures they must have, if not on earth, why, then, in heaven; and
when they failed to find heathen temples bedecked with silver, they
propitiated Heaven by seizing the heathen themselves. There is yet
extant a copy of a record made by a heathen artist to express his
conception of the demands of the conquerors. In one part of the picture
we have a lake, and near by stands a priest pouring water on the head of
a native. On the other side, a poor Indian has a cord about his throat.
Lines run from these two groups to a central figure, a man with beard
and full Spanish panoply. The interpretation of the picture-writing is
this: "Be baptized as this saved heathen, or be hanged as that damned
heathen." Doubtless, some of these people preferred another alternative,
and rather than be baptized or hanged they chose to imprison themselves
within these canyon walls.
August 17.--Our rations are still spoiling; the bacon is so badly
injured that we are compelled to throw it away. By an accident, this
morning, the saleratus was lost overboard. We have now only musty flour
sufficient for ten days and a few dried apples, but plenty of coffee.
We must make all haste possible. If we meet with difficulties such as we
have encountered in the canyon above, we may be compelled to give up the
expedition and try to reach the Mormon settlements to the north.
261 powell-canyons-165.jpg
SIGNAL OF SUCCESSFUL WAR PARTY.
262 powell-canyons-166.jpg
A SIGNAL OF PEACE.
TO THE FOOT OF THE GRAND CANYON. 263
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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