The Geography and Dialects of the Miwok Indians - Yosemite Online

1908] Barrett .—The Geography and Dialects of the Miwok Indians . 347
but differed in opinion as to whether it belonged to the Plains or
the Amador dialect. That this vicinity was held by the Miwok
there seems little doubt, though it can not be definitely stated to
which of the two dialectic areas it belonged. In respect to the
eastern part of this northern boundary, the bulk of Miwok information
gave the south fork of the Cosumnes as the northern limit
of Miwok territory. This information, however, does not agree
with that obtained from the Maidu by Professor Dixon, who
places this portion of the Maidu-Miwok boundary definitely at
the middle fork instead of the south fork . Therefore, since Professor
Dixon's information on this point appears to be quite
positive, and since a considerable amount of similar information
was obtained from the Miwok in the course of the present investigation,
it seems highly probable that the middle fork does mark
the boundary in this region.
From the point just west of Silver lake the boundary runs in
a southerly direction through the mountains and across the head
of Mokelumne river, where it takes a more westerly course and
runs to the vicinity of Big Trees, otherwise known as the Calaveras
big tree grove . Here it turns quite sharply to the south
for a few miles and then to the east, going across the northern
headwaters of Stanislaus river, and thence up the range separating
Aspen Creek from the middle fork of Stanislaus river, to the
crest of the high Sierras, which it then follows, with its general
southeasterly trend, to a point at or near Mt . Lyell. Both Miwok
and Washo informants were questioned concerning the boundary
between their territories and all agreed that the Washo owned
the region for some distance down on the western slope of the
Sierras, and that they held a narrow strip of territory down to
the vicinity of Big Trees . The Washo placed the line definitely
about three miles west of Big Trees, while some of the Miwok
placed it between Big Trees and Gardner's about three or four
miles to the east. Neither Miwok nor Washo inhabited the very
high mountains during the colder season, but during the summer
both camped there and seem to have been on very friendly terms.
It also appears that although the ownership of the respective territory
of each was fully recognized by the other, there were no
exacting restrictions placed by either upon the other in their