THE UKJ TREES 



125 



commonly called, of California. The annual rings of 

 these giants show them to be from two thousand to 

 four thousand years old. 



It is hard to realize this great age. It means that 

 for centuries and centuries before the white men came 

 these kings of the forests looked down on generations 



FIG. 133. " General Grant," a Big Tree, Mariposa Grove, California 



and generations of Indian tribes. They may even have 

 seen the coming of the first Indians. What wonderful 

 tales they might relate if they could only talk ! 



On that fateful day over four hundred years ago, 

 when the three little caravels of Columbus sighted the 



