Indian Village and Camp Sites in Yosemite Valley 



ON THE NORTH ( OR GRIZZLY-BEAR ) SIDE — OO-HOO-MA-TAT KO-TO-WAHK 



I. Hoo-ke-hahtch'-ke. — Situated at the extreme upper end of the valley 

 between Merced River and Tenaya Creek, and just below the mouth of 

 Tenaya Canon. A summer village inhabited up to about twenty years 

 ago. 



2. Ho I' -low', or Lah'-koo-hah. — Indian cave, immediately under Wash- 

 ington Column at the mouth of Tenaya Canon; a low, broad, and deep 

 recess under a huge rock. Said to have be'en occupied as a winter shel- 

 ter, and also when attacked by the Mono Lake Piutes. The overhanging 

 rock is black from the smoke of ages, and far back in the cave large 

 quantities of acorn-shells have been found. The word Lah-kod-hah, often 

 applied to Indian Cave, is a call meaning "come out." 



3. Wis'-kah-lah, — A large summer camp on a northward bend of Mer- 

 ced River, a little west of Royal Arches. Western part of site now oc- 

 cupied by a small settlement known as Kinneyville. 



4. Yd-watch-ke (sometimes nicknamed Mah-chd-to, meaning "edge" or 

 "border," because of its position on the border of the valley). — Large 

 village at mouth of Indian Canon; still occupied. The slightly sloping 

 gravel and sand "fan" on which this village is situated is the warmest 

 place in Yosemite Valley, having a southwesterly exposure and receiv- 

 ing a maximum of midday and afternoon sunshine. Several species of 

 shrubs belonging to the Upper Sonoran zone — the one next below the 

 Transition zone, in which Yosemite Valley lies — thrive on this hot sandy 

 plain among and outside of the scattered ponderosa pines and black 

 oaks; These are Ceanothus divaricatus, Rhus trilohata, Lupinus ornatus, 

 Eriodictyon glutinosum, Pentstemon breviflorus. 



5. Ah-wah'-ne. — Village on Black Oak Flat, extending from site of 

 Galen Clark's grave easterly nearly to Y6-watch-ke. As in the case of 

 most of the villages, the village name was applied also to a definite tract 

 of land belonging to it. This area, in the case of Ah-wah'~ne, was a 

 piece of level ground of considerable size, beginning on the west along 

 a north and south line passing through Sentinel Hotel and reaching 

 easterly nearly to the mouth of Indian Canon. The cemetery was on 

 this tract, as was also the barn formerly belonging to J. B. Cooke. This 

 being the largest tract of open level ground in the valley, the name Ah- 

 wah'-ne came to be applied by outside Indians to the whole valley. 



6. Koom-'i-ne, or Kom-i-ne. — The largest and most important village 

 in the valley, situated on the north side of the delta of Yosemite Creek 

 just below Yosemite Fall (Ah-wah'-ning chu-luk-ah-hu, slurred to Cho- 

 luk), and extending southwesterly at the base of the tatus-slope under 

 the towering cliffs for about three-quarters of a mile, reaching almost or 

 quite to Three Brothers (Haw' -hawk). Old Chief Tenaya had a large 

 earth-covered ceremonial-house (hang-e) by a big oak tree in this vil- 

 lage. The Government soldiers stationed in the valley took possession 



