n
effort. I entered lodge after lodge, climbed from terrace to terrace,
but my patient and loving endeavor was unrewarded. Fatigued, and with a
desponding heart, I retraced my steps towards the temple.

Morning once more dawns; it is the hour of worship; groups may be seen
at the doors of the different lodges; they separate, some incline their
course to the river, where sparkling waters are just discernible, as the
blue mist, that during the night had hung over the valley, rises upward.
Filling their _ollas_ they return, carrying the earthen vessels on their
heads. Others may be seen wending their way to the temple; I, among
others ascend; arriving at the top, I find a number already congregated
there; they make way for me, showing a deference as new as it is
unexpected. I have a fine view of the village, and what an odd look it
has; what strange structures meet my view; some are one, others two,
three, and even four stories in height; they resemble pyramids with a
piece of the top cut off; each upper story is smaller than that below
it; the lower one serving as a terrace for the one above, and thus up to
the top. The clay of which they are built is of a yellowish tinge.
Leaning against each terrace is a ladder, that serves as stairs to the
story above; no windows are to be seen, but doors lead into the lodge
from every terrace. Those lodges occupied by warriors and chiefs are
ornamented by long poles projecting from the top of the structure, from
which float pennants, bearing various devices; the temple looms up over
all. The corrals, in which the cattle are secured during the night, are
near the houses of their owners. Close to the staff of the temple stands
an altar, on which a fire is burning; and huddled in a small group near
its base are a group of female captives; their forms are almost shrouded
in the long striped Indian blankets. Impelled by a resistless force I
near them; one turns towards me, it is my wife; opening my arms I rush
wildly forward, overturning men and women by this sudden and precipitate
movement. My wife is apparently as much frightened as the others; then
recognizing my voice she breaks from the group and is soon in my arms.
We were not long allowed to remain in each others arms; recovering from
their surprise, the Indians seized and parted us. During the remainder
of the time spent on the top of the temple, Mrs. Eastman was kept
guarded and separated from TAHTECKADAHAIR, the Indian brave.
The