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Show Visits Natural Bridges and Ancient Cliff Dwellings GeoiRei W. Cliff, A. Willard Kirkham, Miss Sarah Larsen and Miss Rae Rose, all students of the University of Utah, have just completed a two week's tour of San Juan County, where they visited the world famed uatural bridges and the loins of the ancient Cliff Dwellings. The trip was made from Salt Lake City to Blanding, Utah, by automobile. automo-bile. At Blanding, Mr. and Mrs. L. F. Redd, Mr. and Mrs. Wiley Redd and Mrs. Hyrum Tangnjn, all of San Juan County, joined the party, and the trip was made from that point to the bridges on horse-back. The first bridge, the Edwin, which is located about forty-five miles west of Blanding, was reached at the end of the second day's ride. The Carolina and the Augusta bridges were visited the following day, after a hard climb. The entire trip to the bridges and back to Blanding, a distance of about 120 miles, was made in five days. At present, according to Mr. Cliff, there is only a narrow trail leading through the cedars and brushes to the bridges, but an automobile road i3 now under construction at various points, and it is expected that within the next two or three years the tourist will be able to motor to these magnificent works of nature. The party spent considerable time exploring the Cliff Dwelling ruins, once the homes of the ancient Mokie Indians. These ancient people built their homes in caves and openings on high ledges where they Were protected pro-tected from their enemies and also from storms and wind, and for this reason many of them are in a good state of preservation at the present time. Mr. Cliff brought home several pieces of pottery, a Mokie ax, and other relics which he found in these ruins. I Before returning the party visited the Ute and Navajo Indian village at Montizuma, about 20 miles from Bluff. Here they 'had a chance to study the habits and customs of the modern Indian. They secured several interesting photos at this place, and had the opportunity of conversing with chiefs Poke and Posy, the two main characters in the Indian insurrection in San Juan county about tw.o years ago. At the time they were at' Montizuma the Indians were beginning to congregate for their annual sun dance and pow wow, and Indians from all parts of Southern Utah! were making their way to this big celebration. |