122 TRAVELS THROUGH LOWER CANADA ! 
the top of the precipice reaching nearly to the 
bottom. 
Having left this place, we returned once 
more through the woods bordering upon the 
precipice to the open fields,, and then directed 
our course by a circuitous path, about one mile 
in length, to a part of the cliff where it is pos¬ 
sible to descend to the bottom of the cataract. 
The river, for many miles-below the precipice, 
is bounded on each side by steep, and in most 
parts perpendicular, cliffs, formed of earth and 
rocks, and it is impossible to descend to the 
bottom of them, except at two places, where 
large masses of earth and rocks have crumbled 
down, and ladders have been placed from one 
break to another, for the accommodation of 
passengers. The first of these places which 
you come to im walking along the river, from 
the Horse-shoe Fall downwards, is called the 
Indian Ladder/' the ladders having- been 
constructed there by the Indians. These lad¬ 
ders, as they are called, of which there are se¬ 
veral, one below the other, consist simply of 
pine-trees, with notches cut in their sides, for 
the passenger to rest his feet on. The trees, even 
when first placed there, would vibrate as you 
stepped upon them, owing to their being so 
long and slender; age has rendered, them 
Sin: lens firm, and they now certainly cannot be 
deemed safe^ though many persons are still in 
