The ~Bridalveil Road~, ascending the south side of the valley, is scenically superior to the north, or El Capitan Road. Crossing Pohono Bridge to the south side of the Merced the road immediately enters a dense and beautiful forest. A short distance takes us to ~Fern Spring~, justly famous for the purity of its ice cold water. One-half mile beyond we suddenly emerge at ~Bridalveil Meadows~, obtaining a most charming view of the Gates of the Valley. At the right, ~Bridalveil Fall~ leaps 630 feet from its hanging valley, the one side of which is formed by the massively sculptured ~Cathedral Rocks~, and the other by a solid granite ridge terminating at ~Leaning Tower~, another eminence of the turreted south wall. On the opposite side of the canyon rises the sheer face of ~El Capitan~. In the recess at its west the evanescent streamer of ~Ribbon Fall~ descends in a lace-like film. At the edge of the meadow about 100 feet north of the road a dense grove of oaks and pines shelters the graves of two pioneers, Rose and Shurban, who were massacred here by the Indians in May, 1852. Near the river was once the Indian village of Sap-pah´-sam-mah. The road now passes near ~Bridalveil Fall~, charming glimpses of which are now and then revealed. A subsidiary road turns to the right and leads to the foot of the falls. This short side trip should be taken by all visitors. Just below a very large rock at the east margin of the stream is the site of the ancient village of Lem-me´-hitch´-ke. In view of this fact, our stories of the Indians' great fear of Pohono, "the spirit of the evil wind," may be somewhat overdrawn. Just below the imposing buttress of the lowermost of the Cathedral Rocks is ~El Capitan Bridge~, and near it ~Lo-to-ya~ (Flower) ~Spring~. North of the river is El Capitan Checking Station and the terminus of the ~Big Oak Flat Road~ (Road Trip IV). East of Cathedral Rocks we are treated to a sudden view of the two marvelously slender ~Cathedral Spires~, each rising 500 feet from its base and appearing to tower even above the Yosemite rim. Directly opposite across ~El Capitan Meadows~ is a most comprehensive view of the mighty wall of Tote-ack-ah-noo-la, the "Rock Chief" of the Indians, whose title was merely translated into Spanish to make the present name. Chauffeurs often point out the likeness of the chief and other more or less imaginary mural images. In a shallow niche 1189 feet above the road stands a hardy Jeffrey pine 82.4 feet high and two feet in diameter.