Waterfalls of Yosemite Valley

Waterfalls of Yosemite Valley

By Alfred Lambourne

The naming of all the objects of interest in the Yosemite Valley is singularly felicitous, as it serves to bring the several parts of the won- drous place and its surroundings into harmonious fellowship. Our feelings of sentiment are not so shocked as they are so often done elsewhere, at the incongruous title of some delectable spot or object of beauty. The old Indian names, given by the tribe of the Mariposa, are retained, and are full of poet- ical meaning, as the red man's faith in the power of the unseen spiritual forces of nature was sim- ple and pure. None of these names are more beautiful or suggestive than those given to the waterfalls. — Pohono Spirit of the Evil Wind; — Pi-na-ack Cataract of Diamonds; — Yo-in-Ye the Meandering, are the suggestive titles given by the abor- igines to those three waterfalls, called in English by the names of the Bridal Veil, the Vernal, and the Nevada Falls. Vernal Falls received the English name from the intense greenness of the mossy rocks at their base, and either of the two names suit them well. So also does the name Meandering, the Indian name for the Nevada Falls; its water does not fall straight down, but clings to the rocks in wonderfully beautiful curves. The Bridal Veil is perhaps the more lovely of all the waterfalls, and once seen will never be forgotten. Pohono, Spirit of the Evil Wind, The Vernal Falls

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Nevada Falls Middle Fall of Yosemite

whether or not you linger around your former home we know not, but this we know, so long as the mountain winds sport un- der thy waterfall, swaying it from side to side, dissipate it in mist ere half way down, and make of it a cloud whereon the rainbows gleam and quiver, so long the pale-face looking upon it

WATERFALLS OF YOSEMITE VALLEY 497

Bridal Veil Falls Pohono — Windy Day will be in a fit mood to believe one and all of the poetic legends which tell the beliefs of the vanished Mariposa. The scenery of the earth has nothing more beautiful than the waterfalls of the Yosemite valley.