Indians of the Yosemite Valley and Vicinity - Their History, Customs and Traditions by Galen Clark
page 58 of 82 (70%)
page 58 of 82 (70%)
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Innumerable moons and snows have passed since the Great Spirit
guided a little band of his favorite children into the beautiful vale of Ah-wah´-nee [Yosemite Valley], and bid them stop and rest from their long and weary wanderings, which had lasted ever since they had been separated by the great waters from the happy land of their forefathers in the far distant _El-o´-win_ (West). Here they found food in abundance for all. The rivers gave them plenty of _la-pe´-si_ (trout). They found in the meadows sweet _ha´-ker_ (clover), and sour _yu-yu-yu-mah_ (oxalis) for spring medicine, and sweet _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 and skins for clothing and beds. And here they lived and multiplied, and, as instructed by their medicine men, worshipped the Great Spirit which gave them life, and the sun which warmed and made them happy. [Illustration: _Photograph by Boysen_. MARY. Daughter of Captain John, one of the last Chiefs of the Yosemites.] They also kept in memory the happy land of their forefathers. The story was told by the old people to the young, and they again told it to their children from generation to generation, and they all believed that after death their spirits would return to dwell forever in that distant country. |
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