The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-06
YOSEMITE VALLEY.
saos THE mfsAlu TRAVELLING csaatspoxusNl.

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3 --~->~>~~>~>>~->~--~~c>-> Ct a
saom THE RfaAln TRAVELLING CORRESPONDENT. 1'n'
History. Of Its Discovery-Prescnt Appearance
Of tho acknowledgements Of the Mountains
Around 1.-THE Highesa Cataract In the
rWsrld-Falls'ef the Merced-BrinciRal OBJ
jects Of Interest. .-,-l t..i-tt .irf l.'-.. &c
YOSEMITE VALLEY, May 90 1865.
The Yosemite Valley was not known to white men
until 1852, and owes Its discovery to the Indians
In the early days the settlers the San Joaquin and
its tributaries were much annoyed at the depreda-
lions OF the Indians. These marauders~ would come
down from the mountains, and after stealing horses
and mules retire TO their hiding places where they
would be safe from pursuit Several times they were
Followed, but 1t was generally dicult to reach them
when once out Of sight. Becoming bold they boasted
they had one place where the whites could not reach
them and where they could enectually conceal all
their plumber. Actuated by curiosity and a
desire for revenge the white settlers organized q
party, and when the Indians next appeared they
were vigorously followed The result was the dis
covery OF the Yosemite. The Indians were followed
into the upper end Of the valley Some of them were
killed, others were captured, and the balance
capped by clambering out by trail where q white
man could not follow. since that time no Indians,
with the exception OF a few peaceabe ones have
ever lived in the valley. trrH
ANe Woru IostHh6 tpTOHOunCeu rO-beul-i-tel means
great grizzly bear and applied to this valley to
show that 1t was held in high honor. The grizzly
bear is the largest animal known to the Indians OF
this region and is held by them in great veneratiOn.
The valley was thus designated by the best word
known to the men who inhabited 1t. Nearly all the
mountains and cataracts around the valley
were designated by some name that ex-
pressed characteristic. Thus Tutochanulah
the name Of the high mountain opposite Inspiration
Point, means in English the greatest the captain
and the mountain is known In Spanish Ell Captain
The three mountains, which some one has named the
Three Brothers, have an Indian name which signi-
nes mountains playing at leap frog" The rock
called the Sentinel has Indian name OF the same
meaning, and Of the falls at the upper end OF the
valley one of the prettiest and most dazzling is
named Piwyack, or the cataract OF diamOnds.'
Many of the Indian names have disappeared and
| American ones, not half as full Of meaning have
| taken their places.
Soon after the valley was discovered 1t began to be
visited by curious persons but there much
/ travel In that direction until within the past few
years. Any piece Of ground that promises to be valu-
able is sure attract settlers and the Yosemite
not left unnOticed. For nearly ten years there have
been settlers in the valley, most Of them departing in
the autumn and remaining away until the following
| spring. Some seasons two hotels have been kept
here, but there Is now but one.
Aweek Is not too long time for studying the Yo-
semitic but party had only three days Of its dis
pose SO we rose at reasonable hour on the morn
ing after arrival determined to see as mu Oh
| possible In our limited stay. The question will be
asked In what Goes the beauty Of the Yosemite con-
sist9 Is it like Niagara Lake George, the White
Mountains, or is it different from them allS 1t ia
| mountain and cascade; but its mountains and cas-
cades dinerent from all others have ever seen.
Uvna volla IN Unf1a In uhipnlo Aovfh
and 1t six eight miles in length. 1t ia not reg
uar and we'll defined chasm like huge ditch cut by
human hands, does 10 possess the characteristic
LOT the canon Of the Niagara river, below thu
| falls. With o general direction from east II
west the Yosemite Ia 80 shut In by mountains tina
there IL nc one point where an uninterrupted view
be obtained In going to visit the falls Of th,
Me-ced. at the upper end Of the valley, we seem Il
be advancing directly against the mountains anc
must pass around several bends before realizing thai
shall not be entirely shut In among the cliffs and
crags that guard this portion OF the valley The
whole distance along both sides of the valley we see
precipitous walls and high mountains scattered
irregulary and piled in great heaps the earth.
| quakes that MADE the valley had but ceased their
| work from sheer WEAKNESS at tossing these huge
into the air. Among all the cliffs and noun
tans there two that correspond save In height
| and suhlimty. i.e
The FIRST and most striking Of the mountain
| walls is Tutochanulah or Ell Captain, near
| ly opposite Inspiration Point and in full
| view as we come in sight OF the valley
This cliff is Of light gray granite and stands out
ntsthe valley at an obtuse angle beyond the other
portions Of the northern wall. 1t rises an almost
perpendicular face for 5000 feet-mOre than two
hirde Of mile. No foot ever assembled It's front or
ever win ascend IL unless man shall arise who
| can cling az the ny clings to q window pane, or
squirrel to the bark OF his favore tree As you look
upon you see its gray surface streaked here and
| there as II by perpendicular seams. Observation
viii tell you that the whole mountain ia almost with
ont now and only bears the stains Of water that has
trickled down Its sides. On Its top IA forest Of
pines SO far away that they seem like shrubs though
| we are told that many Of them exceed 200 feet In
| height. In q little crevce towards the top Is
single pine that seems to be clinging for exist
ence to the solid rock, and apparently with
very slight support. The whole front OF the cliff IL
free from vegetation. person ride to its foot
| and place hts hand against mass OF rock rising
more than three thousand feet above him.
East Of FL Captain and overlooking the river are
three mountains lying closely together, II looking
each others shoulders. They bear the name of
the Three Brothers-theIr Indian name, and most
appropriate one, meaning "the mountains playing
leap frog" Opposite these the Sentinel and the
Cathedral Spires the former single shaft that
hangs The valley, though far above 1t, and reminds
| one OF . watch tower OF the middle ages The Ca
thedra Spires two shafts that rise side by side
l with rock between them that bears strong like
ness TO the gable end OF church. East OF these are
several crags not yet named which bear individual
names which have not adhered Towards the head
| Of the valley is the North Dome situated,
as its name indicates, on the north side Of
the valley, and rounded on the summit
regularly as the dome OF the national Capitol Not
far from 1t IL the South Dome. overhanging the
upper part of the valley and rising clear above 1t
more than six thousand feet. Nearest the valley II
appears ss II split half way from top to base the
haa