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Title: The Legend of Dah-nol-yo, Squaw Rock

Author: Helen McCowen Carpenter

Release date: June 3, 2016 [eBook #52233]
Most recently updated: October 23, 2024

Language: English

Credits: Produced by Charlene Taylor, Bryan Ness, Craig Kirkwood
and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LEGEND OF DAH-NOL-YO, SQUAW ROCK ***

Transcriber’s Notes:

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Additional Transcriber’s Notes are at the end.


Title page.

THE LEGEND
OF

DAH-NOL-YO,
SQUAW ROCK

Compliments of
The San Francisco and North Pacific Railway,
The Picturesque Route of California.


POMO INDIAN IN DANCING COSTUME MADE FROM THE FEATHERS OF THE EAGLE

For forty-six miles The San Francisco and North Pacific Railway, the Picturesque Route of California, skirts the Russian River. A few of the many lovely views en-route are shown in this little brochure.

This beautiful country was once occupied by the Pomo Indians, a brave and flourishing tribe, of whom but very few families remain. Many of the local features are hallowed by the Indian folk-lore. The legend of Dah-nol-yo—Squaw Rock, so charmingly written by Mrs. H. M. Carpenter, of Ukiah, is presented to the reader.

DAH-NOL-YO—Squaw Rock.


THE LEGEND OF DAH-NOL-YO—SQUAW ROCK.

Among the many extant Indian Legends of Squaw Rock, none has appeared which relates to the face of stone, on the summit of this noted mountain. The following is substantially as given by a direct descendant of Con-che Tadi, a Pomo Chief, who lived in the shadow of Dah-nol-yo, when time was young.

This Chief was particularly noted for preserving the peace and harmony of his own tribe and others with which he came in contact. His faithful squaw Ma-cha-ta (Kingfisher) devoted her time to her two sons, Ca-ba-ba (Brave one) and Bu-tah-so (Little Bear); and as is the custom at the present day, gathered the buckeye and acorn, as a means of subsistence, while her lord smoked his pipe or enjoyed a nap in the sunshine. As the sons approached manhood they were inseparable companions and partook of the peaceful disposition of their illustrious father.

TWIN ROCKS, ON THE RUSSIAN RIVER—NEAR DAH-NOL-YO.

One day, after vainly endeavoring to catch enough fish for dinner, a very beautiful Indian woman suddenly appeared before them. When she merely looked into the water, fish and turtles came out upon the sand and lay at her feet. She pointed to the east and west, and all kinds of birds and beasts were at once before her. Ca-ba-ba, the elder son, who was to be Chief of the tribe when the Tadi went to the “Happy Hunting Ground,” conceived the idea of making this young woman his wife, feeling assured that at least a good living was in store for him through this arrangement. Divining his thoughts (which did not meet with her approval, as it is supposed she was already enamored of Bu-tah-so,) she declared, in consequence of his selfish motives, he should never be the Chief of his tribe, which so enraged Ca-ba-ba that he threw a fishing spear at her. This missed its fair mark and was buried in the bosom of Bu-tah-so. All was immediately in darkness—thunder rolled, lightning flashed and the whole earth was convulsed. From out the storm the woman’s voice was heard pronouncing maledictions on the head of Ca-ba-ba and commanding him to hide himself in Dah-nol-yo, and do penance for all time. While he suffered in darkness, she said the face of Bu-tah-so should stand upon his sepulchre as a warning to all evil doers. The disappearance of the Chief’s sons and the face of one of them, engraved in stone, upon the mountain overlooking their home, so frightened the tribe that they fled to the north, and no tribe has since had the temerity to live in sight of the face on Dah-nol-yo.

CAMP SCENE ON RUSSIAN RIVER ON LINE SAN FRANCISCO AND NORTH PACIFIC RY.

Here the legend ends, and we take up the threads and weave a little net of well authenticated facts. When the San Francisco and North Pacific Railway wound through the picturesque canyon of Che-hool-be-da-dah (Russian River) a tunnel pierced the base of Dah-nol-yo, thus opening the door of Ca-ba-ba’s prison and liberating him. In fear of detection, and a return to his solitary quarters, he cautiously crept to his childhood’s home only to find desolation. Turning his eyes to the summit of Dah-nol-yo he was transfixed with terror at beholding the face of Bu-tah-so looking grimly down upon him. Held by an invisible power he gazes on, unable to turn his eyes even to the bear, deer, quail and squirrel, that venture so near, peering in wonder at the lone man who is to suffer on through all eternity as he keeps his silent vigil of Dah-nol-yo.

POMO HUT.


RUSSIAN RIVER, GUERNEVILLE IN THE DISTANCE.


BOATING ON RUSSIAN RIVER.


BOHEMIAN GROVE—NEAR GUERNEVILLE. These trees range from 200 to 300 feet in height.


The way to reach the Russian River and its scenic surroundings is by the San Francisco and North Pacific Railway, the Picturesque Route of California.

Continuous riding over this road does not become monotonous, owing to the variety and constant change of scenery, traversing, as it does, Marin, Sonoma, Russian River, Sanel and Ukiah Valleys.

The hand of man, in dotting the country with orchards, vineyards, grain fields, homes, towns and villages, has most beautifully blended the domestic with nature’s wildness.

From San Francisco to Ukiah, the terminus of the road, is only 113 miles.

The Counties tributary, Marin, Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake, are known as the most fertile on the Pacific Coast. The winds from the Pacific Ocean, tempered by the bordering coast range and redwood forests, produce a mild and salubrious climate so enjoyable to the healthy and refreshing to the weak.

The Hotels and Resorts, and the numerous and various mineral springs, afford every opportunity for health and recreation.

This section is specially desirable to the home-seeker, owing to the variety and profusion of products which can be raised, and without irrigation; for in this section, renowned for its richness and fertility and wonderful soil products, there is not one acre under irrigation.

Ticket Office, 650 Market Street, Chronicle Building.

General Office, Mutual Life Building, San Francisco.

A. W. Foster,
Pres. and Gen’l Manager.

H. C. Whiting,
General Superintendent.

R. X. Ryan,
Gen’l Pass’r and Frt. Agt.


Map of S. F. & N. P. Ry. and stage connections

Transcriber’s Notes:

The author is Helen McCowen Carpenter (1839-1917).

This pamphlet is not dated, but a review of it appeared in The San Francisco Call, Volume 81, Number 163, May 12, 1897, p. 7.

Punctuation has been made consistent.

The paragraphs beginning “One day, after ...” and “Here the legend ends, ...” have been transposed.