or hundreds of years, but they are very reluctant to speak of these legends to white people, and it is extremely difficult to get reliable information on t

eal Indian myths, but many are obviously fanciful in some particulars, and it is impossible to tell how much is of Indian origin and how much is due to poe

cases where "legends" would be manufactured on the spur of the moment by some young Indian to satisfy

as of wholly Indian origin. Some of them, notably those of the Tul-tok′-a-na and the second legend of Tis-sa′-ack, have been accepted by eminent ethnologi

aracters, but it is well known that the Indians living in Yosemite in recent years are of mixed tribal origin and do not all agree as to the traditional history of the region, nor the names of the prominent scenic features, nor even of the Valley itself. And this

AU-KON-NU′-LA

vale of Ah-wah′-nee [Yosemite Valley], and bid them stop and rest from their long and weary wanderings, which had lasted ever

aph by

A

hn, one of the last Ch

toon′-gy and other edible roots in abundance. The trees and bushes yielded acorns, pine nuts, fruits and berries. In the forests were herds of he′-ker (deer) and other animals, which gave meat for food a

e to the young, and they again told it to their children from generation to generation, and they

res. And so the young son of their chieftain was made to sleep in the skins of the beaver and coyote, that he might grow wise in building, and keen of scent in following game. On some days he was fed with la-pe′-si that he might become a good swimmer, and on other days the eggs of

and wise chieftain, and he was also a rain w

se-ka′, meaning the Supreme Good. His grand o-chum (house) was built at the base of the great rock called To-tau-kon-nu′-la [El Capitan], because th

d all the great rocky walls around the Valley gre

nu′-la, and had his great chair of state a little west of his palace, where on all festival occasions he

kons. He had no wife, but all the women served him in his domestic needs, as he was their great chief, and his wishes were paramount. The many valuable

reat herds of deer, he saw some strange people approaching, bearing heavy burdens. They were fairer of skin, and their

f your great wisdom and goodness, and have come to see you and your people. We bring you presents of many fine baskets, and beads of

raph b

IS-SA′-ACK).

was turned to stone for quarreling with

e o′-chum for her and her companions on the summit of the great dome at th

with her loveliness, and wanted her to remain and be his wife, but she denied him, saying, "I must return to my people," and, when he still persisted, she left her o′-chum in the night and was n

ave no heat, and many of the people perished from cold and hunger. Then the earth shook terribly and groaned with great pain, and enormous rocks fell from the walls around Ah-wah′-nee. The great dome called Tis-sa′-ack was burst asunder, and half of it fell into the Valley. A fire burst out of the earth in the East

cloud of smoke disappeared, the sun warmed the Valley again into new

ard the West, in which direction he appears to be traveling. This figure was interpreted to be the picture of the great lost Chieftain, indicating that he

ame, and the Indians recognized her by the way in which her dark hair was cut straight across her forehead and fell down a

raph b

DEN B

and all loads are carried in large basket

GEND OF TI

his hand and a roll of woven skin blankets over his shoulder. They had come across the mountains and were very thirsty, and they hurried to reach the Valley, where they knew there was water. The woman was still far in advance when she reached the Lake Ah-wei′-yah [Mirror Lake], and she d

from him, but he followed her and beat her yet more. And she wept, and in her anger she turned and reviled her husband, and threw her basket at him. And while they were in this attitude, one facing the other, they

s her husband, while beside the latter is a smaller

THE GRIZ

enei′-ya, chief of the tribe, have been explained in another chapter, but

talwart young braves of the tribe went early one morning to spear some fish in the lake Ah-wei′-yah [Mirror Lake]. Before reaching his destination

raph b

-TAU-KON-NU′-L

rock grew from a small boulder.

ty, using for the purpose the dead limb of a tree which was near at hand, and, after a long an

him Yo-sem′-i-te (meaning a full-grown grizzly bear), in honor of his achievement

THE TUL-

ying there they fell asleep, and slept so soundly that they never woke up again. Through many moons and many snows they slept, and while they slept the great rock [El Capitan] on which they lay was slowly rising, little by litt

raph b

(TO-KO′-YA)

nd, turned into stone for beating his wife. The lower dome to the rig

could only spring a hand's breadth, the rat two hands' breadths, the raccoon a little more, and so on. The grizzly bear made a great leap up the wall, but fell back

ured his way up until he was soon above the lion's jump, and still farther and farther, until presently he was out of sight; and still he crawled up and up, day and night, through many moons,

OF GROU

curred in September, 1857, while out with a large

t number of grouse found there. Very soon a party of Indians came along carrying some deer, and stopped on the opposite side of the lake to rest and get some water. Soon after they

time any one passed there he always cried after them, and that no one dared to go in the lake, for he would catch them by the legs and pull them down and they would, be drowned. I then concluded that it mus

ear down into the Yosemite Valley; and the Indians believed that an evil wind there had been the cause of some fatal accidents many years

F THE LO

eloved by Kos-su′-kah, a strong and valiant young brave. Valuable presents had been made to the bride's pa

e′-nay might know of his welfare and the success of the hunt, it was agreed between the lovers that at sunset Kos-su′-kah should go to the high rock to the east of Cho′-lak [Yosemite Fal

raph b

ALL (PO-HO′-N

haunted by troubled spirits, which affect the water along i

ainst the sky, but no form could she see, and no arrow fell into the Valley. As darkness gathered, gloomy forebodings took possession of her, and she climbed part way up the canyon called Le-ham′-i-tee

upon the lofty summit [Yosemite Point], where she found her lover's footsteps leading towards the edge of the precipice. Drawing nearer she was startled to find that a portion o

he deer that was to have furnished the marriage feast, and Tee-hee′-nay herself insisted on being lowered over the precipice to recover the body of her lover. This was at

her they found that her spirit had fled to join the los

pirits of Kos-su′-kah and Tee-hee′-nay. In memory of them, and of this tragedy, the slender spire of rock [sometimes called "The Dev

end

YOSEMITE

ge seats i

uting suit and two or three waists, with a change for evening wear, will be f

l or negligee shirts

st and September wear medium clothing, with light wraps. In October and Novem

provide some light head covering to protect the

s are most

quired to ride astride. Heavy denim for skirt and bloomers

and neutral shades are a

neckwear will be found a great

hoes, and heavy, loose gloves,

e that will shade the eyes is best. A clot

sometimes save the

vember, an umbrella is apt

ainful sunburn, the use of a pure cream and soft cl

f the Valley cannot be fully appreciated in a few days. Those not accustomed to staging or mountain climbing sh

you think will be needed. You

National Park. Fishing is allowed, and in June and July an expert angler

art of the Yosemite trip. Many old people and

trails. The most timid people make the trips with enjoyment

laundry in

s a bar

. There is a general store and places for the

t from them. Do not expect them to pose for you for nothing. They are asked to do

lates can be obta

printing are do

YOUR

OF DISTANCES AN

s for transportation of tourists

RIA

UBLIC Estimated

RN. Distance Pa

our or L

More

Each

on P

des, Yos

Falls 16.0

Lake 5.8

View an

ls 10.41

ation Point 1

Isles 4.0

e Falls 3.

LE H

UBLIC Estimated

RN. Distance Pa

d Fou

r More

h Person

evada Falls 10.

te Falls

3.18 3

cier P

Dome 11.1

Point 10.0

Peak 13.0

l and Ne

lacie

Trip) 19.2

er Point

ssures 14.0

nspirati

d Point 16.

l and Ne

st (Same Day)

es fo

uding

nished F

ed shall be subject to special arrangem

on, incivility, misrepresentation, or riding of unsafe a

estimated from the Su

RY TABLE OF

NTENDENT'S

Veil

e Falls

emite Fal

emite Fal

osemite

int (short

t (via Nevad

cad

TION OF IN

imes with considerable poetic license), and variously spelled. The translations given below are as literal as possible, with

but were bestowed by the soldiers of the Mariposa Battalion at the time the Valley was discovered. The a

name of Yosemite Valle

"Full-grown g

idal Veil)-"A

entinel)-"A si

semite Falls)

ket." Strictly speaking, this name applies on

E (Nevada)

To-tau′-kons, or cranes, which used to make th

ral Rock)-Interpr

means mouse or rat, and might possibly be applied

-sus, usually given as the Indian name of the Three Brothe

Watkins)-"Juni

orth Dome)-"

Dome)-A character

berty)-Said to mea

Fall)-Said to mean

n Canyon)-"The place

l's Thumb)-"T

irror Lake)-"

Illillouette Fall)-In

(Now commonly spelled an

YOSEMITE'S

E

ades

l Vei

on 3

inel

1,600 ft.; Low

Arch

nal

ada

louet

S PEAKS A

ES ABOVE FLO

is about 4,000 fee

E

tion Po

pitan

ral Ro

al Spir

ches (sp

ntinel

el Dom

Brothe

Peak

te Poi

r Poin

Dome

Dome

Liberty

Poin

s Rest

arr Ki

INDIAN

-eet

e′-c

′-cat

-sar

o′′-c

o′′-c

w′-ok

n′-tu

′′-wo

h′-j

xpressed by combinat

RDS IN CO

oo′ T

-ma

′-ma

l′-la

w′-li

muck

home

′-wi

poo′-p

ut′-te

′-ha

aw Dead

n Up o

Down o

ee To Hunt

-hah

win

aw By

-nik

tee

e-co

tah T

′-ha

ock

o Baby o

l Sierra Miwok Dictionary with Texts" by L. S. Freeland and Sylvia M. Broadbent (Pub

E INDIAN TR

AND KINGS RIVE

50 AN

f Tribe

m-nees Tuo

tees Yosem

and Noot′-cho

lies Chowch

s Fresn

s Fresno and Sa

es San Jo

d Tal-an′-chees S

sees Fine

-kees, W

and We-mel′-ch

and Tel-um′-n

and Tal′-ch