The Legend of Dah-nol-yo, Squaw Rock — Reading Notes

Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_), and text enclosed by equal signs is in bold (=bold=).

Additional Transcriber’s Notes are at the end.

THE LEGEND OF DAH-NOL-YO, SQUAW ROCK

Compliments of THE SAN FRANCISCO AND NORTH PACIFIC RAILWAY, The Picturesque Route of California.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.