MINDELEFF. | LADDERS. 159 
At one stage in the development of the form of ladder in common use 
to-day the rungs were laid in depressions or notches of the vertical poles, 
resembling the larger notches of the single ladder, and then lashed on 
with thongs of rawhide or with other materials. Later, when the use of 
iron became known, holes were burned through the side poles. This is 
the nearly universal practice to-day, though some of the more skillful 
pueblo carpenters manage to chisel out rectangular holes. The piercing 
of the side poles, particulary prevalent in Zuni, has brought about a 
curious departure from the ancient practice of removing the ladder in 
times of threatened danger. Long rungs are loosely slipped into the 
holes in the side pieces, and the security formerly gained by taking up 
the entire ladder is now obtained, partially at least, by the removal of 
the rungs. The boring of the side pieces and the employment of loose 
rungs seriously interferes with the stability of the structure, as means 
must be provided to prevent the spreading apart of the side pieces. The 
Zuni architect has met this difficulty by prolonging the poles of the lad- 
der and attaching a cross piece near their upper ends to hold them to- 
gether. As arule this cross piece is provided with a hole near each end 
into which the tapering extremities of the poles are inserted. From their 
high position near the extremities of the ladders, seen in silhouette 
against the sky, they form peculiarly striking features of Zuni. They are 
frequently decorated with rude carvings of terraced notches. Exain- 
ples of this device may be seen in the views of Zuni, and several typical 
specimens are illustrated in detail in Pl. xcviit. The use of cross pieces 
on ladders emerging from roof openings is not so Common as on external 
ones, as there is not the same necessity for holding together the poles, 
the sides of the opening performing that office. 
There are two places in Zuni, portions of the densest house cluster, 
where the needs of unusual traffic have been met by the employment of 
double ladders, made of three vertical poles, which accommodate two 
tiers of rungs. The sticks forming the rungs are inserted in continuous 
lengths through all three poles, and the cross pieces at the top are also 
continuous, being formed of a single flat piece of wood perforated by three 
holes for the reception of the tips of the poles. In additional to the usual 
cross pieces pierced for the reception of the side poles and rudely carved 
into ornamental forms, many temporary cross pieces are added during 
the harvest season in the early autumn to support the strips of meat and 
melons, strings of red peppers, and other articles dried in the open air 
prior to storage for winter use. At this season every device that will 
serve this purpose is employed. Occasionally poles are seen extending 
across the reentering angles of a house or are supported on the coping 
and rafters. The projecting roof beams also are similarly utilized at this 
season. 
Zuni ladders are usually provided with about eight rungs, but a few 
have as many as twelve. The women ascend these ladders carrying 
ollas of water on their heads, children play upon them, and a few of the 
Ss 
