Yosemite Legends

"Yosemite Legends" by Bertha H. Smith is an account of Yosemite Valley (Calif.). Some legends included in the book are: Yo-sem-i-te, Large Grizzly Bear Po-ho-no, Spirit of the Evil Wind Hum-moo, the Lost Arrow Kom-po-pai-ses, Leaping Frog Rocks Excerpt: «Yo-sem-i-te, Large Grizzly Bear WHEN the world was made, the Great Spirit tore out the heart of Kay-o-pha, the Sky Mountains, and left the gash unhealed. He sent the Coyote to people the valley with a strong and hardy race of men, who called their home Ah-wah-nee, and themselves, the Ah-wah-nee-chees. The Ah-wah-nee-chees lived the simple, savage life, which knows no law but to hunt and kill and eat. By day the trackless forests rang with the clamor of the chase. By the flaring light of their fires the hunters gorged themselves upon the fresh-killed meat, feasting far into the night. They made war upon the tribes that lived beyond the walls of Ah-wah-nee and never knew defeat, for none dared follow them to their rock-ribbed fastness.»