8

* * * * *

INTERPRETATION OF INDIAN NAMES.

The Indians had names for all the prominent features of the
Yosemite Valley, and these have been variously translated
(sometimes with considerable poetic license), and variously
spelled. The translations given below are as literal as possible,
without embellishment, and are believed to be fairly accurate.
The spelling adopted is such as best indicates the pronunciation.

The English names, by which the falls and peaks are commonly
known, bear no relation to the Indian names, but were bestowed by
the soldiers of the Mariposa Battalion at the time the Valley
was discovered. The appropriateness and good taste of most of
them are due to Dr. L.H. Bunnell, the surgeon of the expedition.

AH-WAH'-NEE (original name of Yosemite Valley)--"Deep grassy
valley."

YO-SEM'-I-TE--"Full-grown grizzly bear."

PO-HO'-NO (Bridal Veil)--"A puffing-wind."

LOI'-YA (The Sentinel)--"A signal station."

CHO'-LACK (Yosemite Falls)--"The falls."

CHO-KO'-NI (Royal Arches)--"Canopy of baby basket." Strictly
speaking, this name applies only to a deep alcove near the top of
this cliff.

YO-WEI'-YEE (Nevada)--"Twisting."

TO-TAU-KON-NU'-LA (El Capitan)--Named from the To-tau'-kons,
or cranes, which used to make their nests in a meadow near the
top of this rock.

KU-SO'-KO (Cathedral Rock)--Interpretation doubtful.

PU-SEE'-NA CHUCK'-AH (Cathedral Spires)--"Pu-see-na" means
mouse or rat, and might possibly be applied to a squirrel.
"Chuck-ah" is a store house or _cache_.

WAW-HAW'-KEE (Three Brothers)--"Falling rocks."
Pom-pom-pa'-sus, usually given as the Indian name of the Three
Brothers, is the name of a smaller rock immediately to the West.

WEI-YOW' (Mt. Watkins)--"Juniper Mountain."

TO-KO'-YA (North Dome)--"The Basket."

TIS-SA'-ACK (Half Dome)--A character in Indian mythology.

MAH'-TA (Cap of Liberty)--Said to mean "Martyr Mountain."

PI-WEI'-ACK (Vernal Fall)--Said to mean "Sparkling water."

LE-HAM'-I-TEE (Indian Canyon)--"The place of the arrow-wood."

HUM-MO' (Devil's Thumb)--"The Lost Arrow."

AH-WEI'-YA (Mirror Lake)--"Quiet Water."

TOO-LOO'-LO-WEI-ACK (Illillouette Fall)--Interpretation
doubtful.

WAH'-WO-NAH--"Big Tree." (Now commonly spelled and pronounced
Wa-wo'-na.)

HEIGHTS OF YOSEMITE'S WATER-FALLS.
FEET

Cascades