NEK'-NA-KA'-TAH THE ROCK MAIDEN

A TALE OF THE NORTHERN MEWUK

As told at Wal'-le near the Canyon of Mokelumne River

PERSONAGES

Nek'-na-kā'-tah the Rock Maiden

Oo-soo'-ma-te the Grizzly Bear

p. 123

Click to enlarge
Ancient Mortar-holes in the Granite Rock

p. 125

NEK'-NA-KA'-TAH THE ROCK MAIDEN

IN the mountains among the rocks by the river lives Nek'-na-kā'-tah, the little rock girl. She is herself a rock and always lives in rocky places by the river. In some way she produces or gives off people; these people are hard like rocks and you can not cut them or shoot them with an arrow.

A long time ago Oo-soo'-ma-te the Grizzly Bear and Hoi-yah'-ko the FIRST PEOPLE, made the Chaw'-se or mortar holes in the big flat-topped rocks. Then Nek'-na-kā'-tah the rock maiden came and helped make the Kah-wah'-che or stone pestles for the people to pound acorns with.