Indians of the Yosemite Valley and Vicinity Their History, Customs and Traditions   By: Galen Clark (1814-1910)

[Signature: Galen Clark]

INDIANS OF THE YOSEMITE VALLEY AND VICINITY

Their History, Customs and Traditions

BY GALEN CLARK

Author of "Big Trees of California," Discoverer of the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees, and for many years Guardian of the Yosemite Valley.

With an Appendix of Useful Information for Yosemite Visitors

ILLUSTRATED BY CHRIS. JORGENSEN AND FROM PHOTOGRAPHS

YOSEMITE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA

GALEN CLARK

1907

Copyright 1904, by Galen Clark

TO MY FRIEND CHARLES HOWARD BURNETT

Contents

INTRODUCTION AND SKETCH OF THE AUTHOR ix

CHAPTER I. EARLY HISTORY 1 II. EFFECTS OF THE WAR 14 III. CUSTOMS AND CHARACTERISTICS 21 IV. SOURCES OF FOOD SUPPLY 31 V. RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES AND BELIEFS 49 VI. NATIVE INDUSTRIES 67 VII. MYTHS AND LEGENDS 76

APPENDIX: Hints to Yosemite Visitors 101 Official Table of Distances and Livery Charges 105 Supplementary Table of Distances 107 Interpretation of Indian Names 107 Tables of Altitudes 110 Names of Indian Numerals 111 Indian Words in Common Use 111 Tribes Placed on Reservations in 1850 51 112

List of Illustrations

COVER DESIGN Mrs. Jorgensen FRONTISPIECE, GALEN CLARK Taber

PAGE

YOSEMITE FALLS, Fiske 3 AN INDIAN DANCER, Boysen 8 THREE BROTHERS, Foley 13 CAPTAIN PAUL, Foley 17 YOSEMITE MOTHER AND PAPOOSE, Boysen 20 INDIAN O´ CHUM, Jorgensen 25 YOSEMITE MAIDEN IN NATIVE DRESS, Jorgensen 27 A YOSEMITE HUNTER, Jorgensen 32 INDIAN SWEAT HOUSE, Jorgensen 34 CHUCK´ AH, Mrs. Jorgensen 39 HO´ YAS AND ME TATS´, Fiske 42 A WOOD GATHERER, Fiske 47 A YOUNG YOSEMITE, Dove 53 LENA AND VIRGIL, Boysen 55 OLD KALAPINE, Boysen 62 YOSEMITE BASKETRY, Boysen 66 MRS. JORGENSEN'S BASKETS 68 INDIAN BEAD WORK, Fiske 70 A BASKET MAKER, Boysen 73 MARY, Boysen 79 HALF DOME, Foley 84 A BURDEN BEARER, Fiske 88 EL CAPITAN, Foley 91 NORTH DOME, Foley 93 BRIDAL VEIL, FALL, Fiske 97

Introduction and Sketch of the Author

Galen Clark, the author of this little volume, is one of the notable characters of California, and the one best fitted to record the customs and traditions of the Yosemite Indians, but it was only after much persuasion that his friends succeeded in inducing him to write the history of these interesting people, with whom he has been in close communication for half a century.

The Indians of the Yosemite are fast passing away. Only a handful now remain of the powerful tribes that once gathered in the Valley and considered it an absolute stronghold against their white enemies. Even in their diminished numbers and their comparatively civilized condition, they are still a source of great interest to all visitors, and it has been suggested many times that their history, customs and legends should be put in permanent and convenient form, before they are entirely lost.