Che-ha-lum'-che the Rock Giant

Che-ha-lum'-che is the named Rock Giant of the Southern Sierra Miwok of Calaveras County, recorded by C. Hart Merriam among the tribe's beliefs about giants and fabulous beings. He dwells in the limestone caverns of the region, prowls at night imitating voices to lure people out, and carries his victims to his cave in an enormous basket to eat them; the caves were consequently feared and avoided.

Domains

• caves and cannibalism

Powers

• to snatch people at night and carry them to his cave in a basket
• to imitate voices and cries to lure victims from their homes

Sources

• C. Hart Merriam, The Dawn of the World: Myths and Weird Tales Told by the Mewan Indians of California, Arthur H. Clark Co., 1910
• Edward W. Gifford and Gwendoline Harris Block, Californian Indian Nights Entertainments, Arthur H. Clark Co., 1930