Indians of the Yosemite Valley and Vicinity - Their History, Customs and Traditions by Galen Clark
page 60 of 82 (73%)
page 60 of 82 (73%)
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became high mountains.
After a time Choo´-too-se-ka´ built himself a great palace _o´-chum_ on the summit of the rock To-tau-kon-nu´-la, and had his great chair of state a little west of his palace, where on all festival occasions he could overlook and talk to the great multitude below; and the remains of this chair are still to be seen. Choo´-too-se-ka´ was then named To-tau-kon-nu´-la, because he had built his _o´-chum_ on the summit of the great rock and taken the place of the _to-tau´-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 donations which he received from his people at the great annual festivals made him wealthy beyond all personal wants, and he gave freely to the needy. One day, while standing on the top of the great dome [Sentinel Dome] above the south wall of the Valley, watching the great herds of deer, he saw some strange people approaching, bearing heavy burdens. They were fairer of skin, and their clothing was different from that of his people, and when they drew near he asked them who they were and whence they came. And a woman replied, "I am Tis-sa´-ack, and these are some of my people. We come from _cat´-tan chu´-much_ (far South). I have heard of 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 many colors, as tokens of our friendship. |
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