Other bands of Indians in the vicinity of the Yosemite Valley
were the Po-ho-nee´-chees who lived near the headwaters of the
Po-ho´-no or Bridal Veil Creek in summer, and on the South Fork
of the Merced´ River in winter, about twelve miles below
Wawo´na; the Po-to-en´-cies, who lived on the Merced River;
Wil-tuc-um´-nees, Tuol´-unme River; Noot´-choos and
Chow-chil´-las, Chowchilla Valley; Ho-na´-ches and
Me´-woos, Fresno River and vicinity; and Chook-chan´-ces, San
Joaquin River and vicinity.
These tribes, including the Yosemites, were all somewhat
affiliated by common ancestry or by intermarriage, and were
similar in their general characteristics and customs. They were
all called by the early California settlers, "Digger Indians," as
a term of derision, on account of their not being good fighters,
and from their practice of digging the tuberous roots of certain
plants, for food.