The Indian name of the Valley, however, is Ahwahnee.
The Indians had names for all the different rocks and streams of the Valley, but very few of them are now in use by the whites, Pohono, the Bridal Veil, being the principal one.

The expedition remained only one day and two nights in the Valley, hurrying out on the approach of a storm and reached the south-fork headquarters on the evening of the third day after starting out.

Thus, in three days the round trip had been made to the Valley, most of it had been explored in a general way and some of its principal features had been named.

But the Indians had fled up the Tenaya Canyon trail and none of them were seen, except an old woman unable to follow the fugitives.
A second expedition was made in the same year under command of Major Boling.

When the Valley was entered no Indians were seen, but the many wigwams with smoldering fires showed that they had been hurriedly abandoned that very day.