CHAPTER XVIII. 
THE YO KAI’.A, ETC. 
This name has been corrupted by the Americans into “Ukiah”, and 
applied to the town around which these Indians live. The word yo means 
“down below” or “lower”, and kaia is a dialectic variation of the Pomo 
kai, ‘‘vailey”. Sometimes they were called by the Pomo, Yokaia Pomo, 
and sometimes Yo-kai’-a-mah. 
They occupied the fertile and picturesque valley of Russian River from 
a point a little below Calpello down to about seven miles below Ukiah. 
‘They were once very numerous. In Coyote Valley, near by, Mr. Christy 
states that there were between three hundred and four hundred when he 
arrived, while now eight American families in the same valley think them- 
selves crowded. 
Their style of lodge is the same which prevails generally along Rus- 
sian River—a huge framework of willow poles covered with thatch, and 
resembling a large, flattish haystack. Though still preserving the same 
style and materials, since they have adopted from the Americans the use of 
boards they have learned to construct all around the wall of the wigwam 
a series of little state-rooms, if I may so call them, which are snugly boarded 
up and furnished with bunks inside. This enables every family in these 
immense patriarchal lodges to disrobe and retire with some regard to de- 
ceney, which could not be done in the one common room of the old-style 
wigwain. 
I paid a visit to their camp four miles below Ukiah, and finding there 
a unique kind of assembly-house desired to enter and examine it, but was 
not allowed to do so until I had gained the confidence of the old sexton 
by a few friendly words and the tender of a silver half-dollar. The pit of 
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