When we have rested and seen your people and beautiful valley we
will return to our home."

[Illustration: _Photograph by Foley_
HALF DOME (TIS-SA´-ACK). 5,000 Feet.
Named for a woman in Indian mythology who was turned to stone for
quarreling with her husband. See "Legend of Tis-sa´-ack."]

To-tau-kon-nu´-la was much pleased with his fair visitor, and
built a large _o´-chum_ for her and her companions on the
summit of the great dome at the east end of the Valley [Half
Dome], and this dome still retains her name.

And she tarried there and taught the women of Ah-wah´-nee how
to make the beautiful baskets which they still make at the
present day; and To-tau-kon-nu´-la visited her daily, and
became charmed with her loveliness, and wanted her to remain and
be his wife, but she denied him, saying, "I must return to my
people," and, when he still persisted, she left her _o´-chum_
in the night and was never seen again. And the love-stricken
chieftain forgot his people, and went in search of her, and they
waited many moons for his return and mourned his long absence,
but they never saw him more.

This was the beginning of a series of calamities which nearly
destroyed the great tribe of Ah-wah-nee´-chees. First a great
drouth prevailed, and the crops failed, and the streams of water
dried up. The deer went wild and wandered away. Then a dark cloud
of smoke arose in the East and obscured the sun, so that it gave
no heat, and many of the people perished from cold and hunger.