236 E. L. Furlong — Exploration of Samwel Cave. 



limiting trip, or a war expedition, would hide himself in the 

 cave for a certain period, fasting and meditating on the object 

 desired. It was the belief that through this vigil they would 

 obtain good luck and success. 



Following is the version of the legend generally current 

 among the Wintuns : — 



Many years ago a woman of strong medicine told three 

 Wintun maidens that this cave contained two pools of Sawame 

 or magic water ; and that if they bathed in these it would 

 insure good luck and make their wishes come true. Acting 

 on the old woman's advice, they entered the cave, lighting 

 their way with pine torches. They found one pool of water 

 in which they bathed, and then went in search of the second 

 pool which contained the stronger Sawame. Following the 

 instructions of the medicine woman, they climbed to the nar- 

 row entrance of a large chamber. Seeing no water here, they 

 went hand in hand through this chamber and into the wind- 

 ing passages leading from it. In one of these they came to a 

 large pit. One girl more curious and venturesome than the 

 others went near the edge and looked down. Craning far 

 over, her foot slipped and she fell over the edge. She would 

 have fallen at once to the bottom but for the supporting hands 

 of the other maidens. The overhanging wall at the edge of 

 the pit was slippery and her efforts to regain the top were 

 vain. The two girls above could with difficulty retain their 

 footing and in their bewildered state did not have sufficient 

 strength to lift her. At last, exhausted and slipping slowly 

 toward the edge, they let go their hold and the un fortunate 

 girl fell into the pit. They heard her strike, and then again 

 far below a faint thud. They fled in fright from the cave and 

 spread the news among their relatives and friends. 



Some of the Indian braves went to the cave taking with 

 them lengths of grass rope, which they knotted together and 

 lowered into the pit. They seemed unable to touch the 

 bottom with their rope and could do nothing. Hearing no 

 sound below, after a time they left the place. They said the 

 spirits had gotten the girl. 



From this time on the cave was held in profound awe and 

 was seldom if ever visited by the Indians. The white people 

 who settled in the country soon after the event thought the 

 tale was but an Indian myth and gave it little credence. 



The first descent into the large chamber of the cave was 

 made by Professor J. C. Merriam and the writer in August 

 1903, the other chambers having been investigated by our 

 party a short time previous to this. The work commenced in 

 1903 has been continued during the past two summers. 



