Yosemite (grizzly bear, not large grizzly bear, according to the scientists), said to have been called Yohamite by the natives, is one of the few Indian names whose meaning has been ascertained with a reasonable degree of certainty. It must be remembered that Yosemite, like most Indian words, has been greatly corrupted from its original form, which was u-zú-mai-ti, o-só-mai-ti or uh-zú-mai-ti, according to the tribe using it, and the valley was never known by this name to the Indians, but always as A-wa-ni, from the name of their principal village. Considering the great alteration of the name from its native form, it does not seem to be a matter of vital importance whether it shall now be used as one word, Yosemite, or in two words, Yo Semite, although the latter form was at one time the more general usage, and is greatly preferred by some persons. The valley was discovered in 1851 by Major James D. Savage of the United States army, while chasing the Indians, who had a bad habit of sallying forth from their hiding-place in the valley to commit depredations. The name was chosen by Dr. L. H. Bunnell, surgeon of the expedition, who tells the story in his Discovery of the Yosemite. He gave it the name of an Indian tribe living there and to whom this name had been given by other tribes, they calling themselves Ah-wah-nee. Their chief, Ten-ei-ya, said that when he was a young man the name Yosemite, or Yohamite, had been chosen because the tribe lived in the mountains and valleys which were the favorite resorts of the bears, and because his people were expert in killing them. He also said, perhaps in a spirit of boasting, that the name was bestowed upon his tribe to express the idea that they were held in as much fear as the bears. This band of Indians was said to have been originally composed of outlaws or refugees from other tribes, and may have well deserved their evil reputation.
Indian names, few of which can be scientifically defined, have been given to many peaks and waterfalls in the valley. In the folder printed by the Southern Pacific Railroad Company more or less fanciful definitions are given for these names, for which there is no foundation in fact except in the case of Yosemite itself and Hunto, which really does mean “eye,” though not “watching eye.” Tenaya Peak was probably named for the Yosemite chief, Ten-ei-ya. The definition of Pi-wa-ack as “cataract of diamonds” is absurd on its face, for a moment’s thought will remind any one that diamonds were wholly unknown to the Indians of that time and place.
“Ma-ta (the canyon), a generic word, in explaining which the Indians held up both hands to denote perpendicular walls.”—(Powers’ Tribes of California.)
“Tis-se-yak is the name of an Indian woman who figured in a legend. The Indian woman cuts her hair straight across the forehead and allows the sides to drop along her cheeks, presenting a square face, which the Indians account the acme of female beauty, and they think they discover this square face in the vast front of South Dome.”—(Powers’ Tribes of California.)
Cho-ko-nip-o-deh, translated as “baby basket” in the Southern Pacific folder, means literally “dog-place” or “dog-house.”—(Powers’ Tribes of California.)
MONO
Mono is the name of a county on the eastern border of the state, and of the lake near the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada. This lake is fourteen miles long and nine miles wide, and is peculiar in having no outlet, its waters being strongly saline and alkaline. It lies 6730 feet above sea-level and is almost completely destitute of animal life.
VERNAL FALLS IN THE YOSEMITE VALLEY.