s proved this supposition to be true. The sides of this canyon have
nearly all their ledges occupied by these houses.

Every advantage was taken, both natural and artificial, to conceal them
from view. "Cedars and pines grew thickly along the ledges upon which
they are built, hiding completely any thing behind them. All that we did
find were built of the same materials as the cliffs themselves with
but few, and then only the smallest, appertures toward the canyon, the
surface being dressed very smooth, and showing no lines of masonry.
It was only on the very closest inspection that the houses could be
separated from the cliff."

Illustration of View of Cliff in which the House is Situated.--

To illustrate the singular position in which this house was located, we
introduce this cut. It is seven hundred feet above the valley. "Whether
viewed from below or from the heights above, the effect is almost
startling, and one can not but feel that no ordinary circumstances
could have driven a people to such places of resort." As showing the
difficulty an enemy would have to approach such a house, we give Mr.
Jackson's account of his climb to it:

"The first five hundred feet of ascent were over a long, steep slope of
_debris,_ overgrown with cedar, then came alternately perpendiculars and
slopes. Immediately below the house was a nearly perpendicular ascent
of one hundred feet, that puzzled us for a while, and which we were only
able to surmount by finding cracks and crevices into which fingers and
toes could be inserted. From the little ledges occasionally found, and
by stepping upon each other's shoulders, and grasping tufts of yucca,
one would draw himself up to another shelf, and then, by letting down a
stick of cedar or a hand, would assist the others."

"Soon we reached a slope, smooth and steep, in which there had been
cut a series of steps, now weathered away into a series of undulating
hummocks, by which it was easy to ascend, and without them almost an
impossibility. Another short, steep slope, and we were under the ledge
on which stood our house." By referring to the first cut, we see that
the house stands on a very narrow ledge, and that the rocks overhang
it so as to furnish a roof. It will also be noticed that the ledge is
rounding, so that the outer walls of the house rise from an incline.
Piers, or abutments, had also been built along the ledge, so as to form
an esplanade.

Illustration of Plan of the