Indians of the Yosemite valley and vicinity Their history, customs and traditions — A Reader’s Guide

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

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.

Many tales and histories of the California Indians have been written by soldiers and pioneers, but Mr. Clark has told the story of these people from their own standpoint, and with a sympathetic understanding of their character. This fresh point of view gives double interest to his narrative.

Galen Clark comes of a notable family; his English ancestors came to the State of Massachusetts in the seventeenth century, but he is a native of the Town of Dublin, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, born on the 28th day of March, 1814, and is consequently nearly ninety years of age, but still alert and active in mind and body.

He attended school in his early youth during the winter months, and worked on a farm during the summer, leading nearly the same life which was followed by so many others who afterwards became famous in our country's history.

Later in life he learned chair-making and painting, an occupation which he followed for some years, when he removed to Philadelphia and subsequently to New York City.

Whilst residing in New York, in 1853, he resolved, after mature reflection, to visit the new Eldorado. His attention was first attracted to this State by visiting the celebrated Crystal Palace in New York, where was then on exhibition quantities of gold dust which had been sent or brought East by successful miners.

Mr. Clark left New York for California in October, 1853, coming via the Isthmus of Panama, and in due time reached his destination. In 1854 he went to Mariposa County, attracted thither by the wonderful accounts of the gold discoveries, and the marvelous stories he had heard of the grandeur and beauty of the Yosemite Valley and the surrounding mountains.

Upon his first arrival in Mariposa, he engaged in mining, and was also employed to assist in surveying Government land on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley, and canals for mining purposes, some of which passed through the celebrated "Mariposa Grant," the subject of prolonged and bitter litigation, both in this country and in Europe. He probably knows more about the actual facts concerning the Mariposa Grant than any one now living, and it is to be hoped that some day he may overcome his natural repugnance to notoriety, and give to the public the benefit of his knowledge.

In the year 1855 Mr. Clark made his first trip into the Yosemite Valley with a party made up in Mariposa and Bear Valley.

Returning to Mariposa, he resumed his old occupation of surveying and mining, and, whilst so engaged, by reason of exposure, had a serious attack of lung trouble, resulting in severe hemorrhages which threatened to end his life.