Myths of the Cherokee — Chronicle
Ordered by year where the text states one — taken as written, never inferred. This book has no continuous chronology, so nothing is carried forward: events with no stated year are listed at the end, in myth order. Every event links back to one sentence of the original.
⭐ Constellation map → · 📖 Read the original → · 🗂 Character index → · 📍 Places →
556 events · 17 carry a year stated nearby in the text · the rest left undated
1710 (2 events)
Myth 99 · The Shawano Wars · Part 1 · 📍 [[Cumberland river]] · In March
the trader Charleville
In March the trader sent Charleville ahead with several loads of skins, intending himself to follow with the Shawano a few months later.
Myth 99 · The Shawano Wars · Part 1 · 📍 [[Cumberland river]]
Charleville the trader
and suddenly attacked the retreating Shawano, killing a large part of them, together with the trader, and taking all their skins, trading goods, and other property.
1721 (1 events)
Myth 107 · The Lost Cherokee · in 1721
a part of the tribe
Finding all they could say not enough to prevent the treaty, they determined to leave their old homes forever and go far into the West, beyond the Great river, where the white men could never follow them.
1747 (6 events)
Myth 91 · The Two Mohawks · 📍 [[the lower towns of the Cheerake]] · In the year 1747
the Mohawk Indians
a couple of the Mohawk Indians came against the lower towns of the Cheerake, and so cunningly ambuscaded them through most part of the spring and summer, as to kill above twenty in different attacks
Myth 91 · The Two Mohawks · 📍 [[Savana river]] · Once
the two Mohawks
Once, when a large company was in chase of them, they ran round a steep hill at the head of the main eastern branch of Savana river, intercepted, killed, and scalped the hindmost of the party
Myth 91 · The Two Mohawks · 📍 [[Keeowhee]] · In the evening
an old, beloved man the Mohawks
In the evening, however, an old, beloved man discovered them from the top of an adjoining hill, and knew them to be enemies
Myth 91 · The Two Mohawks · 📍 [[Keeowhee]]
the old, beloved man one of our traders
He returned to the town and called first at the house of one of our traders and informed him of the affair, enjoining him not to mention it to any
Myth 91 · The Two Mohawks · 📍 [[Keeowhee]]
one of our traders the headmen
that thoughtless member of the Choktah Sphynx Company busied himself, as usual, out of his proper sphere, sent for the headmen, and told them the story.
Myth 91 · The Two Mohawks · 📍 [[Keeowhee]]
the Mohawks
But they were overpowered by numbers, captivated, and put to the most exquisite tortures of fire, amidst a prodigious crowd of exulting foes.
1768 (1 events)
Myth 99 · The Shawano Wars · Part 2 · in 1768
which continued until brought to an end in 1768 at the request of the Cherokee, who made terms of friendship at the same time with the Iroquois.
1776 (1 events)
Myth 104 · The Eastern Tribes · Part 2 · 📍 [[Franklin, North Carolina]] · in 1776
Tsani (John)
At the battle fought under Williamson near the present site of Franklin, North Carolina, the Cherokee, according to the tradition related by Wafford, mistook the Catawba allies of the troops for some of their own warriors, and were fighting for some time under this impression before they noticed that the Catawba wore deer tails in their hair so that the whites might not make the same mistake. In this engagement, which was one of the bloodiest Indian encounters of the Revolution, the Cherokee claim that they had actually defeated the troops and their Catawba allies, when their own ammunition gave out and they were consequently forced to retire. The Cherokee leader was a noted war chief named Tsani (John).
1779 (1 events)
Myth 104 · The Eastern Tribes · Part 1 · in 1779
White-eyes
The friendly feeling thus established was emphasized in 1779, when the Cherokee sent a message of condolence upon the death of the Delaware chief White-eyes.
1794 (1 events)
Myth 89 · The Iroquois Wars · Part 1 · 📍 [[the Seneca]] · In 1794
a chief
In 1794 the Seneca pointed out to Colonel Pickering a chief who was a native Cherokee, having been taken when a boy and adopted among the Seneca, who afterward made him chief.
1825 (1 events)
Myth 105 · The Southern and Western Tribes · Part 2 · in 1825
McIntosh
after the chief McIntosh was killed in 1825
1838 (1 events)
Myth 89 · The Iroquois Wars · Part 2 · 📍 [[the Indian Territory]] · in 1838
For nearly a century these symbolic records of the peace with the Iroquois were preserved by the Cherokee, and were carried with them to the western territory when the tribe was finally driven from its old home in 1838. They were then in the keeping of John Ross, principal chief at the time of the removal
1843 (1 events)
Myth 89 · The Iroquois Wars · Part 2 · 📍 [[near Tahlequah]] · in June, 1843
They were then in the keeping of John Ross, principal chief at the time of the removal, and were solemnly produced at a great intertribal council held near Tahlequah, in the Indian Territory, in June, 1843
1895 (1 events)
Myth 105 · The Southern and Western Tribes · Part 3 · about 1895
Alkini'
but the last one said to have been of full Natchez blood, an old woman named Alkini', died about 1895.
Undated
Myth 1 · How the World Was Made · At first
the brother (Myth 1) the sister (Myth 1)
At first there were only a brother and sister until he struck her with a fish and told her to multiply, and so it was.
Myth 1 · How the World Was Made · In seven days
the sister (Myth 1) the child (Myth 1)
In seven days a child was born to her
Myth 1 · How the World Was Made · thereafter every seven days
the sister (Myth 1) the child (Myth 1)
and thereafter every seven days another
Myth 1 · How the World Was Made · Then
Then it was made that a woman should have only one child in a year
Myth 2 · The First Fire · 📍 [[Galûñ'lati]] · In the beginning
the Thunders (Ani'-Hyûñ'tikwalâ'ski)
In the beginning there was no fire, and the world was cold, until the Thunders (Ani'-Hyûñ'tikwalâ'ski), who lived up in Galûñ'lati, sent their lightning and put fire into the bottom of a hollow sycamore tree which grew on an island.
Myth 2 · The First Fire · 📍 [[the sycamore tree]]
the Raven
He flew high and far across the water and alighted on the sycamore tree, but while he was wondering what to do next, the heat had scorched all his feathers black, and he was frightened and came back without the fire.
Myth 2 · The First Fire · 📍 [[the hollow tree]]
the little Screech-owl (Wa'huhu')
The little Screech-owl (Wa'huhu') volunteered to go, and reached the place safely, but while he was looking down into the hollow tree a blast of hot air came up and nearly burned out his eyes.
Myth 2 · The First Fire · 📍 [[the hollow tree]]
the Hooting Owl (U'guku') the Horned Owl (Tskili')
Then the Hooting Owl (U'guku') and the Horned Owl (Tskili') went, but by the time they got to the hollow tree the fire was burning so fiercely that the smoke nearly blinded them, and the ashes carried up by the wind made white rings about their eyes.
Myth 2 · The First Fire · 📍 [[the island]]
the little Uksu'hi snake
The heat and smoke were too much for him, too, and after dodging about blindly over the hot ashes until he was almost on fire himself he managed by good luck to get out again at the same hole, but his body had been scorched black
Myth 2 · The First Fire · 📍 [[the island]]
the great blacksnake, Gûle'gi, "The Climber"
He swam over to the island and climbed up the tree on the outside, as the blacksnake always does, but when he put his head down into the hole the smoke choked him so that he fell into the burning stump, and before he could climb out again he was as black as the Uksu'hi.
Myth 2 · The First Fire · 📍 [[the island]] · ever since
Kanane'ski Amai'yehi (the Water Spider)
She put one little coal of fire into her bowl, and came back with it, and ever since we have had fire, and the Water Spider still keeps her tusti bowl.
Myth 3 · Kana'ti and Selu: The Origin of Game and Corn · Part 1 · 📍 [[Pilot knob]] · Long years ago, soon after the world was made
Then they knew that the strange boy had sprung from the blood of the game which Selu had washed off at the river's edge.
Myth 3 · Kana'ti and Selu: The Origin of Game and Corn · Part 1 · the next day
Kana'ti Selu the little boy (Myth 3) the Wild Boy
the parents reached the spot, when they seized the Wild Boy and took him home with them.
Myth 3 · Kana'ti and Selu: The Origin of Game and Corn · Part 1
Kana'ti Selu the little boy (Myth 3) the Wild Boy
They kept him in the house until they had tamed him, but he was always wild and artful in his disposition
Myth 3 · Kana'ti and Selu: The Origin of Game and Corn · Part 1 · It was not long
It was not long until the old people discovered that he had magic powers, and they called him I'nage-utasûñ'hi (He-who-grew-up-wild).
Myth 3 · Kana'ti and Selu: The Origin of Game and Corn · Part 1 · A few days later
Kana'ti the little boy (Myth 3) the Wild Boy
The deer came running past until the last one had come out of the hole and escaped into the forest. Then came droves of raccoons, rabbits, and all the other four-footed animals--all but the bear, because there was no bear then. Last came great flocks of turkeys, pigeons, and partridges that darkened the air like a cloud
Myth 3 · Kana'ti and Selu: The Origin of Game and Corn · Part 1
Kana'ti the little boy (Myth 3) the Wild Boy
when out swarmed bedbugs, fleas, lice, and gnats, and got all over the boys. They screamed with pain and fright and tried to beat off the insects, but the thousands of vermin crawled over them and bit and stung them until both dropped down nearly dead.
Myth 3 · Kana'ti and Selu: The Origin of Game and Corn · Part 2 · Every day when Selu got ready to cook the dinner
Selu the little boy (Myth 3) the Wild Boy
Leaning over the basket, she rubbed her stomach--so--and the basket was half full of corn. Then she rubbed under her armpits--so--and the basket was full to the top with beans.
Myth 3 · Kana'ti and Selu: The Origin of Game and Corn · Part 2
Selu the little boy (Myth 3) the Wild Boy
The boys killed her with their clubs, and cut off her head and put it up on the roof of the house with her face turned to the west, and told her to look for her husband.
Myth 3 · Kana'ti and Selu: The Origin of Game and Corn · Part 2 · in the morning
Selu the little boy (Myth 3) the Wild Boy
They dragged the body of Selu around the circle, and wherever her blood fell on the ground the corn sprang up. But instead of dragging her body seven times across the ground they dragged it over only twice, which is the reason the Indians still work their crop but twice. The two brothers sat up and watched their corn all night, and in the morning it was full grown and ripe.
Myth 3 · Kana'ti and Selu: The Origin of Game and Corn · Part 2 · When Kana'ti came home at last
When Kana'ti came home at last, he looked around, but could not see Selu anywhere, and asked the boys where was their mother. "She was a witch, and we killed her," said the boys; "there is her head up there on top of the house."
Myth 3 · Kana'ti and Selu: The Origin of Game and Corn · Part 2
When he saw his wife's head on the roof, he was very angry, and said, "I won't stay with you any longer; I am going to the Wolf people." So he started off
Myth 3 · Kana'ti and Selu: The Origin of Game and Corn · Part 2 · 📍 [[the townhouse]] · in seven days from now
When the Wolf chief asked him his business, he said: "I have two bad boys at home, and I want you to go in seven days from now and play ball against them." Although Kana'ti spoke as though he wanted them to play a game of ball, the Wolves knew that he meant for them to go and kill the two boys.
Myth 3 · Kana'ti and Selu: The Origin of Game and Corn · Part 2 · 📍 [[the townhouse]]
the Wild Boy the little boy (Myth 3)
When it came down on the ground outside, the Wild Boy took his right shape again and went home and told his brother all that he had heard in the townhouse.
Myth 3 · Kana'ti and Selu: The Origin of Game and Corn · Part 2 · In a day or two
the Wild Boy the little boy (Myth 3)
Then the boys on the outside took their arrows and began shooting them down, and as the Wolves could not jump over the fence they were all killed, excepting a few that escaped through the opening into a great swamp close by. The boys ran around the swamp, and a circle of fire sprang up in their tracks and set fire to the grass and bushes and burned up nearly all the other Wolves.
Myth 3 · Kana'ti and Selu: The Origin of Game and Corn · Part 2 · Soon afterward
the Wild Boy the little boy (Myth 3)
The boys gave them seven grains of corn, which they told them to plant the next night on their way home, sitting up all night to watch the corn, which would have seven ripe ears in the morning.
Myth 3 · Kana'ti and Selu: The Origin of Game and Corn · Part 3 · after traveling a long time
the Wild Boy the little boy (Myth 3) Kana'ti
So the two brothers set off toward the east, and after traveling a long time they came upon Kana'ti walking along with a little dog by his side. "You bad boys," said their father, "have you come here?" "Yes," they answered, "we always accomplish what we start out to do--we are men." "This dog overtook me four days ago," then said Kana'ti, but the boys knew that the dog was the wheel which they had sent after him to find him. "Well," said Kana'ti, "as you have found me, we may as well travel together, but I shall take the lead."
Myth 3 · Kana'ti and Selu: The Origin of Game and Corn · Part 3 · 📍 [[the townhouse]] · that instant
the Wild Boy the little boy (Myth 3)
When the cannibals thought the meat was about ready they lifted the pot from the fire, and that instant a blinding light filled the townhouse, and the lightning began to dart from one side to the other, striking down the cannibals until not one of them was left alive. Then the lightning went up through the smoke-hole, and the next moment there were the two boys standing outside the townhouse as though nothing had happened.
Myth 3 · Kana'ti and Selu: The Origin of Game and Corn · Part 3 · 📍 [[the end of the world]]
the Wild Boy the little boy (Myth 3) Kana'ti Selu
There they found Kana'ti and Selu sitting together.
Myth 3 · Kana'ti and Selu: The Origin of Game and Corn · Part 3 · 📍 [[the Darkening land]] · seven days
the Wild Boy the little boy (Myth 3) Kana'ti Selu
The boys stayed with their parents seven days and then went on toward the Darkening land, where they are now.
Myth 3 · Kana'ti and Selu: The Origin of Game and Corn · Part 3 · 📍 [[the cave]] · After Kana'ti's boys had let the deer out
the Wild Boy the little boy (Myth 3)
After Kana'ti's boys had let the deer out from the cave where their father used to keep them, the hunters tramped about in the woods for a long time without finding any game, so that the people were very hungry.
Myth 3 · Kana'ti and Selu: The Origin of Game and Corn · Part 3 · 📍 [[the townhouse]] · at the seventh song
the Wild Boy the little boy (Myth 3)
At the first song there was a roaring sound like a strong wind in the northwest, and it grew louder and nearer as the boys sang on, until at the seventh song a whole herd of deer, led by a large buck, came out from the woods.
Myth 3 · Kana'ti and Selu: The Origin of Game and Corn · Part 3 · before they left
the Wild Boy the little boy (Myth 3)
Then the Thunder Boys went back to the Darkening land, but before they left they taught the people the seven songs with which to call up the deer.
Myth 3 · Kana'ti and Selu: The Origin of Game and Corn · Part 4 · 📍 [[the cave]] · next morning
the sons
When the cave was opened, the animals, instead of waiting to be picked up, all made a rush for the entrance, and leaping past the frightened and bewildered boys, scattered in all directions and disappeared in the wilderness
Myth 3 · Kana'ti and Selu: The Origin of Game and Corn · Part 4
the woman
They saw the woman place a basket on the ground and standing over it shake herself vigorously, jumping up and down, when lo and behold! large ears of corn began to fall into the basket.
Myth 3 · Kana'ti and Selu: The Origin of Game and Corn · Part 4
the man his children
When the meal had been finished in silence the man spoke to his children, telling them that he was aware of what they had done; that now he must die and they would be obliged to provide for themselves. He made bows and arrows for them, then sent them to hunt for the animals which they had turned loose.
Myth 3 · Kana'ti and Selu: The Origin of Game and Corn · Part 4
the mother them
Then the mother told them that as they had found out her secret she could do nothing more for them; that she would die, and they must drag her body around over the ground; that wherever her body was dragged corn would come up. Of this they were to make their bread. She told them that they must always save some for seed and plant every year.
Myth 4 · Origin of Disease and Medicine · The Deer next held a council
[[Little Deer]]
The Deer next held a council under their chief, the Little Deer, and after some talk decided to send rheumatism to every hunter who should kill one of them unless he took care to ask their pardon for the offense.
Myth 4 · Origin of Disease and Medicine · Now, whenever the hunter shoots a Deer
[[Little Deer]]
if the reply be "No," he follows on the trail of the hunter, guided by the drops of blood on the ground, until he arrives at his cabin in the settlement, when the Little Deer enters invisibly and strikes the hunter with rheumatism, so that he becomes at once a helpless cripple.
Myth 5 · The Daughter of the Sun · 📍 [[the earth]] · every day
so every day when she got near her daughter's house she sent down such sultry rays that there was a great fever and the people died by hundreds
Myth 5 · The Daughter of the Sun · 📍 the daughter of the Sun · next day
the Little Men [[the Spreading-adder]] [[the Copperhead]]
The Little Men made medicine and changed two men to snakes, the Spreading-adder and the Copperhead, and sent them to watch near the door of the daughter of the Sun to bite the old Sun when she came next day.
Myth 5 · The Daughter of the Sun · 📍 [[the house]]
the Little Men Uktena the Rattlesnake
The Little Men made medicine again and changed one man into the great Uktena and another into the Rattlesnake and sent them to watch near the house and kill the old Sun when she came for dinner.
Myth 5 · The Daughter of the Sun · 📍 [[the house]]
the Rattlesnake the daughter of the Sun
he sprang up and bit her and she fell dead in the doorway.
Myth 5 · The Daughter of the Sun · 📍 [[Galûñ'lati]] · After a long time
so they sent him up to Galûñ'lati, and he is there now.
Myth 5 · The Daughter of the Sun · When the Sun found her daughter dead
the Sun the daughter of the Sun
When the Sun found her daughter dead, she went into the house and grieved, and the people did not die any more
Myth 5 · The Daughter of the Sun
the Little Men the daughter of the Sun
They went again to the Little Men, and these told them that if they wanted the Sun to come out again they must bring back her daughter from Tsûsginâ'i, the Ghost country, in Usûñhi'yi, the Darkening land in the west.
Myth 5 · The Daughter of the Sun · 📍 [[Tsûsginâ'i]]
at the seventh round she fell out of the ring, and they put her into the box and closed the lid fast.
Myth 5 · The Daughter of the Sun · 📍 [[the settlements]] · When at last they were very near home
there was a fluttering sound inside and something flew past them into the thicket and they heard a redbird cry, "kwish! kwish! kwish!" in the bushes.
Myth 5 · The Daughter of the Sun · 📍 [[the earth]]
and wept until her tears made a flood upon the earth
Myth 5 · The Daughter of the Sun · at last
when she lifted up her face, and was so pleased at the sight that she forgot her grief and smiled.
Myth 6 · How They Brought Back the Tobacco
He darted down on the plant--tsa!--and snatched off the top with the leaves and seeds, and was off again before the Dagûl`kû knew what had happened.
Myth 6 · How They Brought Back the Tobacco
the Hummingbird the old woman (Myth 6)
Before he got home with the tobacco the old woman had fainted and they thought she was dead, but he blew the smoke into her nostrils, and with a cry of "Tsâ'lû! [Tobacco!]" she opened her eyes and was alive again.
Myth 6 · How They Brought Back the Tobacco
Now he was a hummingbird and flew over the mountains to the tobacco field and pulled some of the leaves and seed and put them into his medicine bag.
Myth 6 · How They Brought Back the Tobacco
the young man (Myth 6) the old man (Myth 6)
When he reached home he found his father very weak, but still alive, and one draw at the pipe made him strong again.
Myth 7 · The Journey to the Sunrise · A long time ago
a sick man
They waited until he was dead
Myth 7 · The Journey to the Sunrise · A long time ago
the woman
a lighted pine knot was put into her hand, and she was lowered into the pit to die there in the darkness after the last pine knot was burned.
Myth 7 · The Journey to the Sunrise · A long time ago
the first one
just as the first one was in the doorway the rock came down and crushed him.
Myth 8 · The Moon and the Thunders · The next night
The next night when the Moon came up in the sky his face was covered with spots, and then his sister knew he was the one who had been coming to see her. He was so much ashamed to have her know it that he kept as far away as he could at the other end of the sky all the night.
Myth 9 · What the Stars Are Like · 📍 [[the mountains]] · In the morning
the hunters two strange creatures
In the morning they started out and went until they came to the ridge, where, after searching some time, they found two strange creatures about so large (making a circle with outstretched arms), with round bodies covered with fine fur or downy feathers, from which small heads stuck out like the heads of terrapins.
Myth 9 · What the Stars Are Like · 📍 [[the camp]]
the hunters two strange creatures
The hunters carried the strange creatures back to the camp, intending to take them home to the settlements on their return. They kept them several days and noticed that every night they would grow bright and shine like great stars, although by day they were only balls of gray fur, except when the wind stirred and made the sparks fly out.
Myth 9 · What the Stars Are Like · on the seventh night
the hunters two strange creatures
when, on the seventh night, they suddenly rose from the ground like balls of fire and were soon above the tops of the trees. Higher and higher they went, while the wondering hunters watched, until at last they were only two bright points of light in the dark sky, and then the hunters knew that they were stars.
Myth 10 · Origin of the Pleiades and the Pine · 📍 [[the townhouse]] · one day
They saw the boys still dancing around the townhouse, and as they watched they noticed that their feet were off the earth, and that with every round they rose higher and higher in the air. They ran to get their children, but it was too late, for they were already above the roof of the townhouse--all but one, whose mother managed to pull him down with the gatayû'sti pole, but he struck the ground with such force that he sank into it and the earth closed over him. The other six circled higher and higher until they went up to the sky, where we see them now as the Pleiades, which the Cherokee still call Ani'tsutsa (The Boys).
Myth 11 · The Milky Way · the next night
the dog
they watched, and when the dog came from the north and began to eat the meal out of the bowl they sprang out and whipped him.
Myth 11 · The Milky Way
the dog
He ran off howling to his home in the north, with the meal dropping from his mouth as he ran, and leaving behind a white trail where now we see the Milky Way
Myth 12 · Origin of Strawberries · at last
the woman (Myth 12) the first man (Myth 12)
until at last the woman left her husband and started off toward Nûñdâgûñ'yi, the Sun land, in the east.
Myth 12 · Origin of Strawberries
the Sun the first man (Myth 12)
Une'`lanûñ'hi then asked him if he would like to have her back again, to which he eagerly answered yes.
Myth 12 · Origin of Strawberries
she still went on until suddenly she saw in front a patch of large ripe strawberries, the first ever known.
Myth 12 · Origin of Strawberries · at last
the woman (Myth 12) the first man (Myth 12)
at last she gathered a bunch of the finest berries and started back along the path to give them to him. He met her kindly and they went home together.
Myth 13 · The Great Yellow-Jacket: Origin of Fish and Frogs · 📍 [[Kanu'ga`lâ'yi]] · A long time ago
the people of the old town of Kanu'galâ'yi U'lagû'
A long time ago the people of the old town of Kanu'ga
lâ'yi ("Brier place," or Briertown), on Nantahala river, in the present Macon county, North Carolina, were much annoyed by a great insect called U'lagû', as large as a house, which used to come from some secret hiding place, and darting swiftly through the air, would snap up children from their play and carry them away.
Myth 13 · The Great Yellow-Jacket: Origin of Fish and Frogs · At last
the hunters U'la`gû'
At last they killed a yearling deer and tied a very long white string to it. The U'la
gû' came again and seized the deer, but this time the load was so heavy that it had to fly slowly and so low down that the string could be plainly seen. The hunters got together for the pursuit. They followed it along a ridge to the east until they came near where Franklin now is, when, on looking across the valley to the other side, they saw the nest of the U'lagû' in a large cave in the rocks.
Myth 13 · The Great Yellow-Jacket: Origin of Fish and Frogs
the hunters U'la`gû'
The hunters built fires around the hole, so that the smoke filled the cave and smothered the great insect and multitudes of the smaller ones, but others which were outside the cave were not killed
Myth 13 · The Great Yellow-Jacket: Origin of Fish and Frogs · at last
the great monster fish and frog the people
They say also that all the fish and frogs came from a great monster fish and frog which did much damage until at last they were killed by the people, who cut them up into little pieces which were thrown into the water and afterward took shape as the smaller fishes and frogs.
Myth 13 · The Great Yellow-Jacket: Origin of Fish and Frogs · afterward
the smaller fishes the smaller frogs the great monster fish and frog
They say also that all the fish and frogs came from a great monster fish and frog which did much damage until at last they were killed by the people, who cut them up into little pieces which were thrown into the water and afterward took shape as the smaller fishes and frogs.
Myth 14 · The Deluge · A long time ago
the man (Myth 14) the dog (Myth 14)
Very soon there is going to be a great freshet and the water will come so high that everybody will be drowned; but if you will make a raft to get upon when the rain comes you can be saved, but you must first throw me into the water.
Myth 14 · The Deluge
the man (Myth 14) the dog (Myth 14)
Then he believed the dog, and began to build a raft.
Myth 14 · The Deluge · Soon
Soon the rain came and he took his family, with plenty of provisions, and they all got upon it.
Myth 16 · The Rabbit Goes Duck Hunting · Once
Once he pretended that he could swim in the water and eat fish just as the Otter did, and when the others told him to prove it he fixed up a plan so that the Otter himself was deceived.
Myth 16 · The Rabbit Goes Duck Hunting
He took another breath and dived under, and this time he came up among the ducks and threw the noose over the head of one and caught it. The duck struggled hard and finally spread its wings and flew up from the water with the Rabbit hanging on to the noose.
Myth 16 · The Rabbit Goes Duck Hunting · at last
It flew on and on until at last the Rabbit could not hold on any longer, but had to let go and drop. As it happened, he fell into a tall, hollow sycamore stump without any hole at the bottom to get out from, and there he stayed until he was so hungry that he had to eat his own fur, as the rabbit does ever since when he is starving.
Myth 16 · The Rabbit Goes Duck Hunting · After several days
The children ran home and told their father, who came and began to cut a hole in the tree. As he chopped away the Rabbit inside kept singing, "Cut it larger, so you can see me better; I'm so pretty." They made the hole larger, and then the Rabbit told them to stand back so that they could take a good look as he came out. They stood away back, and the Rabbit watched his chance and jumped out and got away.
Myth 17 · How the Rabbit Stole the Otter's Coat · 📍 [[Di'tatlâski'yi [The Place Where it Rains Fire]]] · at night
Then the Rabbit filled the paddle with hot coals and threw them up into the air and shouted, "It's raining fire! It's raining fire!" The hot coals fell all around the Otter and he jumped up. "To the water!" cried the Rabbit, and the Otter ran and jumped into the river, and he has lived in the water ever since.
Myth 17 · How the Rabbit Stole the Otter's Coat
The Rabbit took the Otter's coat and put it on, leaving his own instead, and went on to the council.
Myth 17 · How the Rabbit Stole the Otter's Coat
They wondered that he was so bashful, until the Bear came up and pulled the paw away, and there was the Rabbit with his split nose. He sprang up and started to run, when the Bear struck at him and pulled his tail off, but the Rabbit was too quick for them and got away.
Myth 18 · Why the Possum's Tail Is Bare
the Rabbit, who had had no tail since the Bear pulled it out,
Myth 18 · Why the Possum's Tail Is Bare · next morning
Then the Rabbit went over to the Cricket, who is such an expert hair cutter that the Indians call him the barber, and told him to go next morning and dress the Possum's tail for the dance that night. He told the Cricket just what to do
Myth 18 · Why the Possum's Tail Is Bare · In the morning
But all this time, as he wound the string around, he was clipping off the hair close to the roots, and the Possum never knew it.
Myth 18 · Why the Possum's Tail Is Bare · 📍 [[the townhouse]] · When it was night
Then he looked down at his beautiful tail and saw that there was not a hair left upon it, but that it was as bare as the tail of a lizard.
Myth 19 · How the Wildcat Caught the Gobbler · once
The Wildcat once caught the Rabbit and was about to kill him, when the Rabbit begged for his life, saying: "I'm so small I would make only a mouthful for you, but if you let me go I'll show you where you can get a whole drove of Turkeys." So the Wildcat let him up
Myth 19 · How the Wildcat Caught the Gobbler
the old gobbler kicked him. Then the Rabbit drummed hard and sang his loudest, "Pick out the Gobbler, Pick out the Gobbler," and the Wildcat jumped up and caught the Gobbler.
Myth 20 · How the Terrapin Beat the Rabbit · At last
At last they agreed to decide the matter by a race.
Myth 20 · How the Terrapin Beat the Rabbit
You know you can't run. You can never win the race, so I'll give you the first ridge and then you'll have only three to cross while I go over four.
Myth 20 · How the Terrapin Beat the Rabbit · that night
The Terrapin said that would be all right, but that night when he went home to his family he sent for his Terrapin friends and told them he wanted their help. He said he knew he could not outrun the Rabbit, but he wanted to stop the Rabbit's boasting. He explained his plan to his friends and they agreed to help him.
Myth 20 · How the Terrapin Beat the Rabbit · When the day came
The Rabbit was getting tired now and nearly out of breath, but he kept on down the mountain and up the other ridge until he got to the top just in time to see the Terrapin cross the fourth ridge and thus win the race.
Myth 20 · How the Terrapin Beat the Rabbit
The Rabbit could not make another jump, but fell over on the ground, crying mi, mi, mi, mi, as the Rabbit does ever since when he is too tired to run any more.
Myth 21 · The Rabbit and the Tar Wolf · That night
Then the Rabbit struck again with his hind foot, so hard that it was caught in the gum and he could not move, and there he stuck until the animals came for water in the morning.
Myth 21 · The Rabbit and the Tar Wolf · in the morning
When they found who the thief was they had great sport over him for a while and then got ready to kill him, but as soon as he was unfastened from the tar wolf he managed to get away.
Myth 21 · The Rabbit and the Tar Wolf
the wolf (Myth 21) the fox (Myth 21) the Rabbit
However the wolf and the fox suspected her of theft and hit on the following plan to detect her:
Myth 21 · The Rabbit and the Tar Wolf · On the following night
the Rabbit the wolf (Myth 21) the fox (Myth 21)
She receiving no reply kicked the wolf, and by this means adhered to the tar and was caught.
Myth 21 · The Rabbit and the Tar Wolf
the Rabbit the wolf (Myth 21) the fox (Myth 21)
Her enemies, however, refused to listen and she was accordingly let loose. As soon, however, as she was out of reach of her enemies she gave a whoop, and bounding away she exclaimed: 'This is where I live.'
Myth 22 · The Rabbit and the Possum after a Wife · at once
Every animal took a mate at once, and the Rabbit got a wife.
Myth 22 · The Rabbit and the Possum after a Wife · 📍 [[the townhouse]]
But when the Rabbit got to the townhouse he sent out the word that, as there had been peace so long that everybody was getting lazy the council had ordered that there must be war at once and they must begin right in the townhouse. So they all began fighting, but the Rabbit made four great leaps and got away just as the Possum came in.
Myth 22 · The Rabbit and the Possum after a Wife
They had nearly beaten the life out of him when he fell over and pretended to be dead until he saw a good chance to jump up and get away.
Myth 23 · The Rabbit Dines the Bear
The Bear cut a slit in his side and let the oil run out until they had enough to cook the dinner.
Myth 23 · The Rabbit Dines the Bear · four days later
So he took a knife and drove it into his side, but instead of oil, a stream of blood gushed out and he fell over nearly dead.
Myth 23 · The Rabbit Dines the Bear · four days later
The Bear picked him up and had hard work to tie up the wound and stop the bleeding.
Myth 24 · The Rabbit Escapes from the Wolves · once
Some Wolves once caught the Rabbit and were going to eat him
Myth 24 · The Rabbit Escapes from the Wolves
He sang louder and louder and danced nearer and nearer to the field until at the fourth song, when the Wolves were stamping as hard as they could and thinking only of the song, he made one jump and was off through the long grass.
Myth 24 · The Rabbit Escapes from the Wolves
They were after him at once, but he ran for a hollow stump and climbed up on the inside. When the the Wolves got there one of them put his head inside to look up, but the Rabbit spit into his eye, so that he had to pull his head out again.
Myth 24 · The Rabbit Escapes from the Wolves
The others were afraid to try, and they went away, with the Rabbit still in the stump.
Myth 25 · Flint Visits the Rabbit · 📍 [[the mountains]] · In the old days
until the Rabbit, who was the boldest leader among them, offered to go after Flint and try to kill him.
Myth 25 · Flint Visits the Rabbit · in a few days
So Flint promised to make him a visit in a few days.
Myth 25 · Flint Visits the Rabbit
Then he came over to Flint and with one good blow of the mallet he drove the sharp stake into his body and ran with all his might for his own hole; but before he reached it there was a loud explosion, and pieces of flint flew all about.
Myth 25 · Flint Visits the Rabbit
One piece struck the Rabbit from behind and cut him just as he dived into his hole.
Myth 25 · Flint Visits the Rabbit · just at that moment
Then he put his head out to look around, but just at that moment another piece fell and struck him on the lip and split it, as we still see it.
Myth 26 · How the Deer Got His Horns
away in the middle of the thicket he found the Rabbit gnawing down the bushes and pulling them away until he had a road cleared nearly to the other side.
Myth 26 · How the Deer Got His Horns
They agreed that such a trickster had no right to enter the race at all, so they gave the horns to the Deer
Myth 26 · How the Deer Got His Horns
They told the Rabbit that as he was so fond of cutting down bushes he might do that for a living hereafter
Myth 27 · Why the Deer's Teeth Are Blunt · One day soon after the race
"I'm so strong that I can bite through that grapevine at one jump."
Myth 27 · Why the Deer's Teeth Are Blunt
The Deer ran back as he had seen the Rabbit do, made a spring, and struck the grapevine right in the center, but it only flew back and threw him over on his head. He tried again and again, until he was all bruised and bleeding.
Myth 27 · Why the Deer's Teeth Are Blunt
So the Rabbit got a hard stone with rough edges and filed and filed away at the Deer's teeth until they were worn down almost to the gums.
Myth 28 · What Became of the Rabbit · one day
But the Deer had stopped on the bank, and when the Rabbit looked back the Deer had conjured the stream so that it was a large river. The Rabbit was never able to get back again and is still on the other side.
Myth 29 · Why the Mink Smells · at last
Mink
It was decided to burn him, so they caught the Mink, built a great fire, and threw him into it.
Myth 29 · Why the Mink Smells
Mink
But the Mink was already burned black and is black ever since
Myth 30 · Why the Mole Lives Underground · that night
The Mole the man (Myth 30) the woman (Myth 30)
So that night the Mole burrowed his way underground to where the girl was in bed asleep and took out her heart. He came back by the same way and gave the heart to the man, who could not see it even when it was put into his hand.
Myth 30 · Why the Mole Lives Underground
the woman (Myth 30) the man (Myth 30)
at last the feeling grew so strong that she was compelled to go herself to the man and tell him she loved him and wanted to be his wife.
Myth 30 · Why the Mole Lives Underground
the woman (Myth 30) the man (Myth 30)
And so they were married
Myth 30 · Why the Mole Lives Underground
they were very jealous and threatened to kill him, so that he hid himself under the ground
Myth 31 · The Terrapin's Escape from the Wolves
so that it lodged in the wolf's throat as he jumped up at it and choked him to death.
Myth 31 · The Terrapin's Escape from the Wolves
the Terrapin the wolf (Myth 31)
Soon the news went around that the Terrapin had killed the Wolf and was using his ears for spoons.
Myth 31 · The Terrapin's Escape from the Wolves
the Terrapin the wolf (Myth 31)
All the Wolves got together and followed the Terrapin's trail until they came up with him and made him prisoner.
Myth 31 · The Terrapin's Escape from the Wolves
they paid no attention, and dragged him over to the river and threw him in. That was just what the Terrapin had been waiting for all the time, and he dived under the water and came up on the other side and got away.
Myth 31 · The Terrapin's Escape from the Wolves · Some say that when he was thrown into the river
He sang a medicine song: Gû'daye'wû, Gû'daye'wû, I have sewed myself together, I have sewed myself together, and the pieces came together, but the scars remain on his shell to this day.
Myth 32 · Origin of the Groundhog Dance: The Groundhog's Head · once
the Groundhog the foremost wolf (Myth 32)
Just as he got inside, the foremost wolf caught him by the tail and gave it such a pull that it broke off
Myth 33 · The Migration of the Animals · 📍 [[the mountains]] · In the old times
[[Grubworm]] [[Woodchuck]]
In the old times when the animals used to talk and hold councils, and the Grubworm and Woodchuck used to marry people,
Myth 34 · The Wolf's Revenge--The Wolf and the Dog · at night
the wolf (Myth 34) his brother (Myth 34) the great greensnake (salikwâ'yi) (Myth 34)
After traveling on some time he found his brother lying nearly dead beside a great greensnake (salikwâ'yi) which had attacked him.
Myth 34 · The Wolf's Revenge--The Wolf and the Dog
the wolf (Myth 34) the great greensnake (salikwâ'yi) (Myth 34)
The snake itself was too badly wounded to crawl away, and the angry wolf, who had magic powers, taking out several hairs from his own whiskers, shot them into the body of the snake and killed it.
Myth 34 · The Wolf's Revenge--The Wolf and the Dog
the wolf (Myth 34) his brother (Myth 34)
The wolf went back to help his brother and by his magic powers he had him cured long before the doctor came from the west, because the Terrapin was such a slow traveler and the doctor had to prepare his roots before he started.
Myth 34 · The Wolf's Revenge--The Wolf and the Dog · 📍 [[the mountains]] · after a while
The Wolf ran to the mountains, where it suited him so well that he prospered and increased, until after a while he ventured down again and killed some animals in the settlements.
Myth 34 · The Wolf's Revenge--The Wolf and the Dog · 📍 [[the settlements]]
The people got together and followed and killed him, but his brothers came from the mountains and took such revenge that ever since the people have been afraid to hurt a wolf.
Myth 34 · The Wolf's Revenge--The Wolf and the Dog · 📍 [[the mountains]]
The people got together and followed and killed him, but his brothers came from the mountains and took such revenge that ever since the people have been afraid to hurt a wolf.
Myth 35 · The Bird Tribes · Part 1 · 📍 [[the reservation]]
[[one man (Myth 35)]] [[the eagle (Myth 35)]]
It is told of one man upon the reservation that having deliberately killed an eagle in defiance of the ordinances
Myth 35 · The Bird Tribes · Part 1 · 📍 [[the reservation]]
[[one man (Myth 35)]] [[the eagle (Myth 35)]]
he was constantly haunted by dreams of fierce eagles swooping down upon him
Myth 35 · The Bird Tribes · Part 1 · 📍 [[the reservation]]
[[one man (Myth 35)]]
until the nightmare was finally exorcised after a long course of priestly treatment
Myth 35 · The Bird Tribes · Part 3 · on one occasion
who, on one occasion, was about to walk unwittingly into an ambush prepared for him along a narrow trail, when he heard the warning note of the tsikilili', and, turning abruptly, ran up the side of the ridge and succeeded in escaping with his life, although hotly pursued by his enemies.
Myth 36 · The Ball Game of the Birds and Animals · Once
the Bear the Terrapin the Deer the Eagle [[the Hawk]] [[Tla'nuwa (Myth 36)]]
Once the animals challenged the birds to a great ballplay, and the birds accepted.
Myth 36 · The Ball Game of the Birds and Animals
the Eagle [[the Hawk]] Tla'meha
So they took two pieces of leather from the drumhead and cut them into shape for wings, and stretched them with cane splints and fastened them on to the forelegs of one of the small animals, and in this way came Tla'meha, the Bat.
Myth 36 · The Ball Game of the Birds and Animals
the Eagle [[Tewa]]
To try him the bird captain threw up the ball, when the Flying Squirrel sprang off the limb after it, caught it in his teeth and carried it through the air to another tree nearly across the bottom.
Myth 36 · The Ball Game of the Birds and Animals
the Bear [[the Martin]] Tla'meha the Deer
The Bear rushed to get it, but the Martin darted after it and threw it to the Bat, who was flying near the ground, and by his dodging and doubling kept it out of the way of even the Deer, until he finally threw it in between the posts and won the game for the birds.
Myth 36 · The Ball Game of the Birds and Animals · afterwards
[[the Martin]]
For saving the ball when it dropped, the birds afterwards gave the Martin a gourd in which to build his nest, and he still has it.
Myth 37 · How the Turkey Got His Beard · one day
The Terrapin agreed and gave the scalp to the Turkey, who fastened it around his neck.
Myth 37 · How the Turkey Got His Beard
But the Turkey kept on walking, and when the Terrapin called to him to bring back the scalp he only walked faster and broke into a run.
Myth 37 · How the Turkey Got His Beard
Then the Terrapin got out his bow and by his conjuring art shot a number of cane splints into the Turkey's leg to cripple him so that he could not run
Myth 38 · Why the Turkey Gobbles
The Turkey had not a good voice, so he asked the Grouse to give him lessons. The Grouse agreed to teach him, but wanted pay for his trouble, and the Turkey promised to give him some feathers to make himself a collar.
Myth 38 · Why the Turkey Gobbles
They began the lessons and the Turkey learned very fast until the Grouse thought it was time to try his voice. "Now," said the Grouse, "I'll stand on this hollow log, and when I give the signal by tapping on it, you must halloo as loudly as you can." So he got upon the log ready to tap on it, as a Grouse does, but when he gave the signal the Turkey was so eager and excited that he could not raise his voice for a shout, but only gobbled, and ever since then he gobbles whenever he hears a noise.
Myth 39 · How the Kingfisher Got His Bill · in the beginning
The animals held a council over it and decided to make him a bill like a long sharp awl for a fish-gig (fish-spear). So they made him a fish-gig and fastened it on in front of his mouth. He flew to the top of a tree, sailed out and darted down into the water, and came up with a fish on his gig. And he has been the best gigger ever since.
Myth 39 · How the Kingfisher Got His Bill
A Blacksnake found a Yellowhammer's nest in a hollow tree, and after swallowing the young birds, coiled up to sleep in the nest, where the mother bird found him when she came home.
Myth 39 · How the Kingfisher Got His Bill
He came, and after flying back and forth past the hole a few times, made one dart at the snake and pulled him out dead.
Myth 39 · How the Kingfisher Got His Bill
From this the Little People concluded that he would make a first-class gigger if he only had the right spear, so they gave him his long bill as a reward.
Myth 40 · How the Partridge Got His Whistle · one day
So the Terrapin let him have the whistle and the Partridge walked around blowing on it in fine fashion.
Myth 40 · How the Partridge Got His Whistle
he spread his wings, gave one long whistle, and flew to the top of a tree, leaving the poor Terrapin to look after him from the ground. The Terrapin never recovered his whistle
Myth 40 · How the Partridge Got His Whistle
the loss of his scalp, which the Turkey stole from him
Myth 41 · How the Redbird Got His Color · one day
A Raccoon passing a Wolf one day made several insulting remarks, until at last the Wolf became angry and turned and chased him.
Myth 41 · How the Redbird Got His Color
When the Wolf arrived he saw the reflection in the water, and thinking it was the Raccoon he jumped at it and was nearly drowned before he could scramble out again, all wet and dripping.
Myth 41 · How the Redbird Got His Color · while he was sleeping
and while he was sleeping the Raccoon came down the tree and plastered his eyes with dung.
Myth 41 · How the Redbird Got His Color
the Wolf the little brown bird (Myth 41)
The Wolf told his story and said, "If you will get my eyes open, I will show you where to find some nice red paint to paint yourself."
Myth 41 · How the Redbird Got His Color
the little brown bird (Myth 41) the Wolf
so he pecked at the Wolf's eyes until he got off all the plaster.
Myth 41 · How the Redbird Got His Color · ever since
the Wolf the little brown bird (Myth 41)
Then the Wolf took him to a rock that had streaks of bright red paint running through it, and the little bird painted himself with it, and has ever since been a Redbird.
Myth 42 · The Pheasant Beating Corn; Origin of the Pheasant Dance · once
the Pheasant the woman
The Pheasant once saw a woman beating corn in a wooden mortar in front of the house. "I can do that, too," said he, but the woman would not believe it
Myth 42 · The Pheasant Beating Corn; Origin of the Pheasant Dance · 📍 [[the woods]]
the Pheasant
so the Pheasant went into the woods and got upon a hollow log and "drummed" with his wings as a pheasant does, until the people in the house heard him and thought he was really beating corn.
Myth 42 · The Pheasant Beating Corn; Origin of the Pheasant Dance · 📍 [[the woods]] · once
the Pheasant
According to the story, there was once a winter famine among the birds and animals. No mast (fallen nuts) could be found in the woods, and they were near starvation when a Pheasant discovered a holly tree, loaded with red berries
Myth 42 · The Pheasant Beating Corn; Origin of the Pheasant Dance · 📍 [[about the tree]]
the Pheasant
He called his companion birds, and they formed a circle about the tree, singing, dancing, and drumming with their wings in token of their joy, and thus originated the Pheasant dance.
Myth 43 · The Race Between the Crane and the Hummingbird
the Hummingbird the Crane a pretty woman (Myth 43)
she finally told him he must challenge the other to a race and she would marry the winner.
Myth 43 · The Race Between the Crane and the Hummingbird
the Hummingbird the Crane a pretty woman (Myth 43)
They agreed to start from her house and fly around the circle of the world to the beginning, and the one who came in first would marry the woman.
Myth 43 · The Race Between the Crane and the Hummingbird · early in the morning
the Crane the Hummingbird a pretty woman (Myth 43)
He took his time at breakfast and then fixed himself up as nicely as he could at the creek and came in at the starting place where the woman lived, early in the morning. When the Hummingbird arrived in the afternoon he found he had lost the race, but the woman declared she would never have such an ugly fellow as the Crane for a husband, so she stayed single.
Myth 44 · The Owl Gets Married
the widow (Myth 44) the girl (Myth 44)
A widow with one daughter was always warning the girl that she must be sure to get a good hunter for a husband when she married. The young woman listened and promised to do as her mother advised.
Myth 44 · The Owl Gets Married · At last
the widow (Myth 44) the girl (Myth 44) the suitor (Myth 44)
So the mother went to the girl and told her a young man had come a-courting, and as he said he was a good hunter she advised her daughter to take him. "Just as you say," said the girl.
Myth 44 · The Owl Gets Married
the girl (Myth 44) the suitor (Myth 44)
So when he came again the matter was all arranged, and he went to live with the girl.
Myth 44 · The Owl Gets Married · 📍 [[the river]] · next morning
the girl (Myth 44) the suitor (Myth 44)
The girl followed through the woods and kept him in sight until he came down to the river, where she saw her husband change to a hooting owl (uguku') and fly over to a pile of driftwood in the water and cry, "U-gu-ku! hu! hu! u! u!" She was surprised and very angry and said to herself, "I thought I had married a man, but my husband is only an owl." She watched and saw the owl look into the water for a long time and at last swoop down and bring up in his claws a handful of sand, from which he picked out a crawfish.
Myth 44 · The Owl Gets Married
the girl (Myth 44) the suitor (Myth 44)
"I think you are the owl," said his wife, and drove him out of the house.
Myth 44 · The Owl Gets Married · 📍 [[the woods]]
The owl went into the woods and there he pined away with grief and love until there was no flesh left on any part of his body except his head.
Myth 45 · The Huhu Gets Married · 📍 [[the house]] · One evening
A widow (Myth 45) the girl (Myth 45) a stranger lover (Myth 45)
One evening a stranger lover came courting to the house, and when the girl told him that she could marry only one who was a good worker, he declared that he was exactly that sort of man; so the girl talked to her mother, and on her advice they were married.
Myth 45 · The Huhu Gets Married · 📍 [[the house]] · Early next morning
A widow (Myth 45) a stranger lover (Myth 45)
The next morning the widow gave her new son-in-law a hoe and sent him out to the cornfield.
Myth 45 · The Huhu Gets Married · 📍 [[the house]] · in the evening
A widow (Myth 45) a stranger lover (Myth 45)
So the old woman was satisfied, and they had their supper together.
Myth 45 · The Huhu Gets Married · 📍 [[the house]] · at last he came home in the evening
A widow (Myth 45) a stranger lover (Myth 45)
My daughter wants a husband that can work and not a lazy huhu; so you may go.
Myth 46 · Why the Buzzard's Head Is Bare
the buzzard (Myth 46) the buffalo (Myth 46)
They resolved to punish him, and with the help of the buffalo carried out a plot by which the buzzard lost not his topknot alone, but nearly all the other feathers on his head.
Myth 46 · Why the Buzzard's Head Is Bare
He lost his pride at the same time, so that he is willing enough now to eat carrion for a living.
Myth 47 · The Eagle's Revenge · 📍 [[the mountains]] · at night
the hunter (Myth 47) an eagle (Myth 47)
Without thinking of the danger, he shot the eagle.
Myth 47 · The Eagle's Revenge · 📍 [[the townhouse]] · About midnight
About midnight there was a whoop outside and a strange warrior came into the circle and began to recite his exploits.
Myth 47 · The Eagle's Revenge · 📍 [[the townhouse]] · at the end of the story
He told how he had killed a man, and at the end of the story he gave a hoarse yell, Hi! that startled the whole company, and one of the seven men with the rattles fell over dead.
Myth 47 · The Eagle's Revenge · 📍 [[the townhouse]]
He sang of another deed, and at the end straightened up with another loud yell. A second rattler fell dead
Myth 47 · The Eagle's Revenge · 📍 [[the townhouse]]
Still he kept on, and at every pause there came again that terrible scream, until the last of the seven rattlers fell dead, and then the stranger went out into the darkness.
Myth 47 · The Eagle's Revenge
the hunter (Myth 47) the strange warrior (Myth 47) an eagle (Myth 47)
Long afterward they learned from the eagle killer that it was the brother of the eagle shot by the hunter.
Myth 48 · The Hunter and the Buzzard
the buzzard (Myth 48) the hunter (Myth 48)
and proposed that they exchange forms for a while, when the buzzard would go home to the hunter's wife while the hunter would go to look for deer. The hunter agreed
Myth 48 · The Hunter and the Buzzard
the buzzard (Myth 48) the hunter (Myth 48) the hunter's wife (Myth 48)
the buzzard became a man and went home to the hunter's wife, who received him as her husband, while the hunter became a buzzard
Myth 48 · The Hunter and the Buzzard
the buzzard (Myth 48) the hunter's wife (Myth 48)
After staying some time with the woman, who thought always it was her real husband
Myth 48 · The Hunter and the Buzzard
the buzzard (Myth 48) the hunter (Myth 48)
Then the buzzard restored the hunter to human shape, and became himself a buzzard again
Myth 48 · The Hunter and the Buzzard
The hunter went where he had seen the deer and killed several
Myth 49 · The Snake Tribe · once
the rattlesnake the Sun
According to a myth given elsewhere, he was once a man, and was transformed to his present shape that he might save the human race from extermination by the Sun
Myth 49 · The Snake Tribe
the rattlesnake
a mission which he accomplished successfully after others had failed.
Myth 49 · The Snake Tribe · formerly
the spreading adder the Daughter of the Sun
It was formerly a man, but was transformed into a snake in order to accomplish the destruction of the Daughter of the Sun. For its failure on this occasion it is generally despised.
Myth 50 · The Uktena and the Ulûñsû'ti · 📍 [[Galûñ'lati]]
the people were afraid of him and had him taken up to Galûñ'lati, to stay with the other dangerous things
Myth 51 · Âgan-Uni'tsi's Search for the Uktena
They had tied him ready for the torture when he begged for his life and engaged, if spared, to find for them the great wonder worker, the Ulûñsû'ti.
Myth 51 · Âgan-Uni'tsi's Search for the Uktena · 📍 [[Gahû'ti mountain]]
The Uktena was still asleep, and, putting an arrow to his bow, Âgan-uni'tsi shot and sent the arrow through its heart, which was under the seventh spot from the serpent's head.
Myth 51 · Âgan-Uni'tsi's Search for the Uktena · 📍 [[Gahû'ti mountain]] · in another moment
The Uktena tried to follow, but the arrow was through his heart, and in another moment he rolled over in his death struggle, spitting poison over all the mountain side.
Myth 51 · Âgan-Uni'tsi's Search for the Uktena · After seven days
After seven days he went by night to the spot. The body and the bones of the snake were gone, all eaten by the birds, but he saw a bright light shining in the darkness, and going over to it he found, resting on a low-hanging branch, where a raven had dropped it, the diamond from the head of the Uktena. He wrapped it up carefully and took it with him, and from that time he became the greatest medicine-man in the whole tribe.
Myth 52 · The Red Man and the Uktena · 📍 [[the mountains]]
the hunter (Myth 52) the uktena (Myth 52)
The hunter took good aim, and, drawing the arrow to the head, sent it through the body of the uktena, so that the blood spouted from the hole.
Myth 52 · The Red Man and the Uktena · until it was dark
Asga'ya Gi'gagei the hunter (Myth 52)
He wrapped this in a piece of deerskin and gave it to the hunter, saying: "As long as you keep this you can always kill game."
Myth 52 · The Red Man and the Uktena
the hunter (Myth 52) his brother (Myth 52)
He returned to camp alone, and found his brother very sick, but soon cured him with the medicine from the cane
Myth 53 · The Hunter and the Uksu'hi
the hunter (Myth 53) the uksu'hi snake (Myth 53)
With all his running the uksu'hi gained rapidly, and just as he reached the low ground it caught up with him and wrapped around him, pinning one arm down by his side, but leaving the other free.
Myth 53 · The Hunter and the Uksu'hi
the hunter (Myth 53) the uksu'hi snake (Myth 53)
Then withdrawing it he grasped at a bush until the snake turned its head, when he quickly slapped his sweaty hand on its nose. The uksu'hi gave one gasp almost as if it had been wounded, loosened its coil, and glided swiftly away through the bushes, leaving the hunter, bruised but not disabled, to make his way home to Hickory-log.
Myth 54 · The Ustû'tli · 📍 [[Cohutta mountain]]
There was once a great serpent called the Ustû'tli that made its haunt upon Cohutta mountain.
Myth 54 · The Ustû'tli · At last
the Ustû'tli the hunter (Myth 54)
At last a man from one of the northern settlements came down to visit some relatives in that neighborhood. When he arrived they made a feast for him, but had only corn and beans, and excused themselves for having no meat because the hunters were afraid to go into the mountains. He asked the reason, and when they told him he said he would go himself to-morrow and either bring in a deer or find the Ustû'tli.
Myth 54 · The Ustû'tli · In the morning
the hunter (Myth 54) the Ustû'tli
In the morning he started out and went directly toward the mountain. Working his way through the bushes at the base, he suddenly heard a fawn bleat in front. He guessed at once that it was the Ustû'tli, but he had made up his mind to see it, so he did not turn back, but went straight forward, and there, sure enough, was the monster, with its great head in the air, as high as the pine branches, looking in every direction to discover a deer, or maybe a man, for breakfast. It saw him and came at him at once, moving in jerky strides, every one the length of a tree trunk, holding its scaly head high above the bushes and bleating as it came. The hunter was so badly frightened that he lost his wits entirely and started to run directly up the mountain. The great snake came after him, gaining half its length on him every time it took a fresh grip with its fore feet, and would have caught the hunter before he reached the top of the ridge, but that he suddenly remembered the warning and changed his course to run along the sides of the mountain.
Myth 54 · The Ustû'tli · 📍 [[the mountain]]
the hunter (Myth 54) the Ustû'tli
He went down to the base of the mountain, opened his fire pouch, and set fire to the grass and leaves. Soon the fire ran all around the mountain and began to climb upward. When the great snake smelled the smoke and saw the flames coming it forgot all about the hunter and turned to make all speed for a high cliff near the summit.
Myth 54 · The Ustû'tli
Taking a close grip of the rock with its hind feet it raised its body and put forth all its strength in an effort to spring across the wall of fire that surrounded it, but the smoke choked it and its hold loosened and it fell among the blazing pine trunks and lay there until it was burned to ashes.
Myth 55 · The Uw'tsûñ'ta · 📍 [[Nûñ'daye'`li]] · in the old time
the Uw'tsûñ'ta
At Nûñ'daye'`li, the wildest spot on Nantahala river, in what is now Macon county, North Carolina, where the overhanging cliff is highest and the river far below, there lived in the old time a great snake called the Uw'tsûñ'ta or "bouncer," because it moved by jerks like a measuring worm, with only one part of its body on the ground at a time.
Myth 55 · The Uw'tsûñ'ta · 📍 [[the valley]] · when at last they found out about it
the people
For a long time the people did not know it was there, but when at last they found out about it they were afraid to live in the valley, so that it was deserted even while still Indian country.
Myth 56 · The Snake Boy · at last one day
a boy (Myth 56) his grandmother (Myth 56)
at last one day he told his grandmother he would leave them all, but that she must not grieve for him.
Myth 56 · The Snake Boy · 📍 [[the hothouse]] · At early daybreak
a boy (Myth 56) his grandmother (Myth 56)
At early daybreak she came again to the hothouse and looked in, and there she saw an immense uktena that filled the âsi, with horns on its head, but still with two human legs instead of a snake tail. It was all that was left of her boy.
Myth 56 · The Snake Boy · 📍 [[the river]] · full noon
It crawled on through the settlement, leaving a broad trail in the ground behind it, until it came to a deep bend in the river, where it plunged in and went under the water.
Myth 56 · The Snake Boy · 📍 [[the river]]
So she left them and went along the trail made by the uktena to the river and walked directly into the water and disappeared.
Myth 57 · The Snake Man
his companion the other
His companion warned him that if he broke the tabu and ate squirrel meat he would become a snake, but the other laughed and said that was only a conjurer's story. He went on with his preparation, and when the squirrels were roasted made his supper of them
Myth 57 · The Snake Man · Late that night
the other
Late that night his companion was aroused by groaning, and on looking around he found the other lying on the ground rolling and twisting in agony, and with the lower part of his body already changed to the body and tail of a large water snake. The man was still able to speak and called loudly for help, but his companion could do nothing, but only sit by and try to comfort him while he watched the arms sink into the body and the skin take on a scaly change that mounted gradually toward the neck, until at last even the head was a serpent's head and the great snake crawled away from the fire and down the bank into the river.
Myth 58 · The Rattlesnake's Vengeance · that day
his wife (Myth 58) the Yellow Rattlesnake
his own wife had that day killed their chief, the Yellow Rattlesnake
Myth 58 · The Rattlesnake's Vengeance
Not knowing what might happen otherwise, he consented.
Myth 58 · The Rattlesnake's Vengeance · The next moment
the Black Rattlesnake his wife (Myth 58)
The next moment he heard a cry, and going out he found that the Black Rattlesnake had bitten her and that she was already dying.
Myth 58 · The Rattlesnake's Vengeance · until she was dead
He stayed with her until she was dead
Myth 58 · The Rattlesnake's Vengeance · then
the Black Rattlesnake the hunter (Myth 58)
He then taught the hunter a prayer song, and said, "When you meet any of us hereafter sing this song and we will not hurt you; but if by accident one of us should bite one of your people then sing this song over him and he will recover."
Myth 60 · Why the Bullfrog's Head Is Striped
Bullfrog a conjurer (Myth 60) a pretty woman (Myth 60)
Another story is that the Bullfrog had a conjurer to paint his head with yellow stripes (brass) to make him appear more handsome to a pretty woman he was courting.
Myth 61 · The Bullfrog Lover · At last
her mother (Myth 61) the young man (Myth 61) the girl (Myth 61)
so she gave her consent, and thus the young man won his wife.
Myth 61 · The Bullfrog Lover · one day
a bullfrog (Myth 61) the girl at the spring (Myth 61)
she saw sitting on a stone by the spring a bullfrog, which suddenly took the form of a young man and asked her to marry him. She consented
Myth 61 · The Bullfrog Lover · at last
a bullfrog (Myth 61) the girl at the spring (Myth 61)
at last persuaded her to send him away. She told him and he went away
Myth 61 · The Bullfrog Lover · soon after
the girl at the spring (Myth 61)
and so it happened soon after.
Myth 61 · The Bullfrog Lover · At last
a bullfrog (Myth 61) the girl at the spring (Myth 61)
At last his wife grew suspicious and turning him suddenly around to the firelight, exposed the tadpole mouth, at which they all ridiculed him so much that he left the house forever.
Myth 62 · The Katydid's Warning · The next day
the hunter who had sneered at the Katydid
The next day they were surprised by the enemy and the hunter who had sneered at the Katydid was killed.
Myth 63 · Ûñtsaiyi', the Gambler · Part 1 · one day
so one day his mother said to him, "Your father, Thunder, is a great doctor. He lives far in the west, but if you can find him he can cure you."
Myth 63 · Ûñtsaiyi', the Gambler · Part 1
So the boy set out to find his father and be cured.
Myth 63 · Ûñtsaiyi', the Gambler · Part 1
Under the blanket on the seat were long, sharp thorns of the honey locust, with the points all sticking up, but when the boy sat down they did not hurt him, and then Thunder knew that it was his son.
Myth 63 · Ûñtsaiyi', the Gambler · Part 1
There was a large pot in the corner and he told his wife to fill it with water and put it over the fire. When it was boiling, he put in some roots, then took the boy and put him in with them. He let it boil a long time until one would have thought that the flesh was boiled from the poor boy's bones, and then told his wife to take the pot and throw it into the river, boy and all.
Myth 63 · Ûñtsaiyi', the Gambler · Part 1
Thunder's wife the boy (Myth 63)
She did as she was told, and threw it into the water, and ever since there is an eddy there that we call Ûñ'tiguhi', "Pot-in-the-water." A service tree and a calico bush grew on the bank above. A great cloud of steam came up and made streaks and blotches on their bark, and it has been so to this day. When the steam cleared away she looked over and saw the boy clinging to the roots of the service tree where they hung down into the water, but now his skin was all clean.
Myth 63 · Ûñtsaiyi', the Gambler · Part 1 · On the way
Thunder's wife the boy (Myth 63)
She helped him up the bank, and they went back to the house. On the way she told him, "When we go in, your father will put a new dress on you, but when he opens his box and tells you to pick out your ornaments be sure to take them from the bottom. Then he will send for his other sons to play ball against you. There is a honey-locust tree in front of the house, and as soon as you begin to get tired strike at that and your father will stop the play, because he does not want to lose the tree."
Myth 63 · Ûñtsaiyi', the Gambler · Part 1
He brought out a fine suit of buckskin, with belt and headdress, and had the boy put them on.
Myth 63 · Ûñtsaiyi', the Gambler · Part 1
He was not afraid, but remembered what the woman had told him, and plunged his hand to the bottom and drew out a great rattlesnake and put it around his neck for a necklace. He put down his hand again four times and drew up four copperheads and twisted them around his wrists and ankles.
Myth 63 · Ûñtsaiyi', the Gambler · Part 1
Then his father gave him a war club and said, "Now you must play a ball game with your two elder brothers. They live beyond here in the Darkening land, and I have sent for them." He said a ball game, but he meant that the boy must fight for his life.
Myth 63 · Ûñtsaiyi', the Gambler · Part 1 · At last
At last he was tired from defending himself alone against two, and pretended to aim a blow at the honey-locust tree. Then his father stopped the fight, because he was afraid the lightning would split the tree, and he saw that the boy was brave and strong.
Myth 63 · Ûñtsaiyi', the Gambler · Part 2
He brought a small cymling gourd with a hole bored through the neck, and tied it on the boy's wrist.
Myth 63 · Ûñtsaiyi', the Gambler · Part 2 · until noon
They played on until noon, when Ûñtsaiyi' had lost nearly everything he had and was about discouraged.
Myth 63 · Ûñtsaiyi', the Gambler · Part 2
They played and the boy won her.
Myth 63 · Ûñtsaiyi', the Gambler · Part 2
When at last he went to look for him he found that the gambler had gone out the back way and was nearly out of sight going east.
Myth 63 · Ûñtsaiyi', the Gambler · Part 2
the boy (Myth 63) the Horned Green Beetle
The boy ran to his father's house and got his brothers to help him. They brought their dog--the Horned Green Beetle--and hurried after the gambler.
Myth 63 · Ûñtsaiyi', the Gambler · Part 2 · at last
the boy (Myth 63) Ûñtsaiyi' the Horned Green Beetle
the brothers pressed him so hard that at last he could go no more and they caught him just as he reached the edge of the great water where the sun goes down.
Myth 63 · Ûñtsaiyi', the Gambler · Part 2 · 📍 [[Kâgûñ'yi]]
They tied his hands and feet with a grapevine and drove a long stake through his breast, and planted it far out in the deep water.
Myth 64 · The Nest of the Tla'nuwa · In the old time, away back soon after the creation
the Tla'nuwa (Myth 64) his mate (Myth 64)
They were forever flying up and down the river, and used to come into the settlements and carry off dogs and even young children playing near the houses.
Myth 64 · The Nest of the Tla'nuwa · At last
a great medicine man
At last the people went to a great medicine man, who promised to help them.
Myth 64 · The Nest of the Tla'nuwa
a great medicine man
In the nest he found four young ones, and on the floor of the cave were the bones of all sorts of animals that had been carried there by the hawks. He pulled the young ones out of the nest and threw them over the cliff into the deep water below
Myth 64 · The Nest of the Tla'nuwa
a great Uktena serpent (Myth 64)
where a great Uktena serpent that lived there finished them.
Myth 64 · The Nest of the Tla'nuwa · Just then
the Tla'nuwa (Myth 64) his mate (Myth 64) a great Uktena serpent (Myth 64)
Then they darted straight downward, and while one seized the snake in his talons and flew far up in the sky with it, his mate struck at it and bit off piece after piece until nothing was left.
Myth 64 · The Nest of the Tla'nuwa · Then
the Tla'nuwa (Myth 64) his mate (Myth 64)
Then the two Tla'nuwas circled up and up until they went out of sight, and they have never been seen since.
Myth 65 · The Hunter and the Tla'nuwa · one day
the Tla'nuwa (Myth 65) the hunter (Myth 65)
A hunter out in the woods one day saw a Tla'nuwa overhead and tried to hide from it, but the great bird had already seen him, and sweeping down struck its claws into his hunting pack and carried him far up into the air.
Myth 65 · The Hunter and the Tla'nuwa
the Tla'nuwa (Myth 65) the hunter (Myth 65)
As it flew, the Tla'nuwa, which was a mother bird, spoke and told the hunter that he need not be afraid, as she would not hurt him, but only wanted him to stay for a while with her young ones to guard them until they were old enough to leave the nest.
Myth 65 · The Hunter and the Tla'nuwa · many days
The hunter stayed in the cave many days until the young birds were nearly grown
Myth 65 · The Hunter and the Tla'nuwa · The next morning
the hunter (Myth 65) one of the young birds (Myth 65)
The next morning, after the old bird had gone, he dragged one of the young birds to the mouth of the cave and tied himself to one of its legs with a strap from his hunting pack. Then with the flat side of his tomahawk he struck it several times in the head until it was dazed and helpless, and pushed the bird and himself together off the shelf of rock into the air.
Myth 65 · The Hunter and the Tla'nuwa · At last
the hunter (Myth 65) one of the young birds (Myth 65)
As the Tla'nuwa revived it tried to fly upward toward the nest, but the hunter struck it again with his hatchet until it was dazed and dropped again.
Myth 65 · The Hunter and the Tla'nuwa · At last
the hunter (Myth 65) one of the young birds (Myth 65)
At last they came down in the top of a poplar tree, when the hunter untied the strap from the leg of the young bird and let it fly away, first pulling out a feather from its wing.
Myth 65 · The Hunter and the Tla'nuwa · 📍 [[the settlement]]
He climbed down from the tree and went to his home in the settlement, but when he looked in his pack for the feather he found a stone instead.
Myth 66 · Utlûñ'ta, the Spear-Finger · 📍 [[Nûñyû'-tlugûñ'yi]] · Long, long ago--hilahi'yu
To get over the rough country more easily she undertook to build a great rock bridge through the air from Nûñyû'-tlu`gûñ'yi, the "Tree rock," on Hiwassee, over to Sanigilâ'gi (Whiteside mountain), on the Blue ridge, and had it well started from the top of the "Tree rock" when the lightning struck it and scattered the fragments along the whole ridge, where the pieces can still be seen by those who go there.
Myth 66 · U`tlûñ'ta, the Spear-Finger
U`tlûñ'ta some little girl (Myth 66)
When some little girl ran up and laid her head in the old woman's lap to be petted and combed the old witch would gently run her fingers through the child's hair until it went to sleep, when she would stab the little one through the heart or back of the neck with the long awl finger, which she had kept hidden under her robe. Then she would take out the liver and eat it.
Myth 66 · U`tlûñ'ta, the Spear-Finger
She would enter a house by taking the appearance of one of the family who happened to have gone out for a short time, and would watch her chance to stab some one with her long finger and take out his liver.
Myth 66 · U`tlûñ'ta, the Spear-Finger · At last
At last a great council was held to devise some means to get rid of U'tlûñ'ta before she should destroy everybody. The people came from all around, and after much talk it was decided that the best way would be to trap her in a pitfall where all the warriors could attack her at once.
Myth 66 · U`tlûñ'ta, the Spear-Finger
The old woman came slowly along the trail, with one hand under her blanket, until she stepped upon the pitfall and tumbled through the brush top into the deep hole below. Then, at once, she showed her true nature, and instead of the feeble old woman there was the terrible U'tlûñ'ta with her stony skin, and her sharp awl finger reaching out in every direction for some one to stab.
Myth 66 · U`tlûñ'ta, the Spear-Finger
The hunters rushed out from the thicket and surrounded the pit, but shoot as true and as often as they could, their arrows struck the stony mail of the witch only to be broken and fall useless at her feet, while she taunted them and tried to climb out of the pit to get at them.
Myth 66 · U`tlûñ'ta, the Spear-Finger
Now she was frightened in earnest, and began to rush furiously at them with her long awl finger and to jump about in the pit to dodge the arrows, until at last a lucky arrow struck just where the awl joined her wrist and she fell down dead.
Myth 67 · Nûñ'yunu'wi, the Stone Man · Once
the hunter the medicine-man (Myth 67) Nûñ'yunu'wi
When he got there and told his story the medicine-man said the old man was a wicked cannibal monster called Nûñ'yunu'wi, "Dressed in Stone,"
Myth 67 · Nûñ'yunu'wi, the Stone Man
By the order of the medicine-man they stripped themselves and stood along the path where the old man would come.
Myth 67 · Nûñ'yunu'wi, the Stone Man · Soon
the blood poured from his mouth and he fell down on the trail.
Myth 67 · Nûñ'yunu'wi, the Stone Man · when night came
the medicine-man (Myth 67) Nûñ'yunu'wi
Then the medicine-man drove seven sourwood stakes through his body and pinned him to the ground, and when night came they piled great logs over him and set fire to them
Myth 67 · Nûñ'yunu'wi, the Stone Man · as the fire came close to him
Nûñ'yunu'wi was a great ada'wehi and knew many secrets, and now as the fire came close to him he began to talk, and told them the medicine for all kinds of sickness.
Myth 67 · Nûñ'yunu'wi, the Stone Man · when daylight came
the medicine-man (Myth 67) Nûñ'yunu'wi
Then the medicine-man told them to rake off the ashes, and where the body had lain they found only a large lump of red wâ'di paint and a magic u'lûñsû'ti stone.
Myth 67 · Nûñ'yunu'wi, the Stone Man
He kept the stone for himself, and calling the people around him he painted them, on face and breast, with the red wâ'di, and whatever each person prayed for while the painting was being done--whether for hunting success, for working skill, or for a long life--that gift was his.
Myth 68 · The Hunter in the Dakwa'
the Dakwa' the warrior
As they came down it swallowed one with a single snap of its jaws and dived with him to the bottom of the river.
Myth 68 · The Hunter in the Dakwa'
his father (Myth 68) the boy (Myth 68)
A boy was sent on an errand by his father, and not wishing to go he ran away to the river.
Myth 68 · The Hunter in the Dakwa'
and in the confusion the bad boy fell into the water and was immediately swallowed by a large fish.
Myth 68 · The Hunter in the Dakwa' · After lying in its stomach for some time
After lying in its stomach for some time he became very hungry, and on looking around he saw the fish's liver hanging over his head. Thinking it dried meat, he tried to cut off a piece with a mussel shell he had been playing with and still held in his hand. The operation sickened the fish and it vomited the boy.
Myth 70 · The Bride from the South
The North the daughter of the South
he finally fell in love with the daughter of the South and wanted to marry her.
Myth 70 · The Bride from the South
The North the daughter of the South
They were married and he took his bride to his own country
Myth 70 · The Bride from the South · at last
The North the daughter of the South
at last he had to send her home to her parents.
Myth 71 · The Ice Man
the Ice Man the messengers
"Go back now," said the Ice Man, "and I shall be there to-morrow."
Myth 71 · The Ice Man · The next day
the Ice Man
the storm rose to a whirlwind that drove the rain into every burning crevice and piled great hailstones over the embers, until the fire was dead and even the smoke ceased. When at last it was all over and the people returned they found a lake where the burning pit had been
Myth 72 · The Hunter and Selu · 📍 [[the woods]] · before daylight
The plant spoke to him, and told him to cut off some of its roots and take them to his home in the settlement, and the next morning to chew them and "go to water" before anyone else was awake, and then to go out again into the woods, and he would kill many deer and from that time on would always be successful in the hunt.
Myth 72 · The Hunter and Selu · 📍 [[the woods]] · until it was noon
The corn plant continued to talk, teaching him hunting secrets and telling him always to be generous with the game he took, until it was noon and the sun was high, when it suddenly took the form of a woman and rose gracefully into the air and was gone from sight, leaving the hunter alone in the woods.
Myth 72 · The Hunter and Selu · 📍 [[the settlement]]
the hunter (Myth 72) Selu Kana'ti
He returned home and told his story, and all the people knew that he had seen Selu, the wife of Kana'ti.
Myth 72 · The Hunter and Selu · 📍 [[the settlement]] · from that time
He did as the spirit had directed, and from that time was noted as the most successful of all the hunters in the settlement.
Myth 73 · The Underground Panthers · one day in winter
the hunter the panther
"Well," said the panther, "we are getting ready for a Green-corn dance, and there are seven of us out after a buck, so we may as well hunt together."
Myth 73 · The Underground Panthers · 📍 [[the panther townhouse]]
the hunter the panther
The panther led the way, carrying the captured deer upon his back, up a little stream branch until they came to the head spring, when it seemed as if a door opened in the side of the hill and they went in.
Myth 73 · The Underground Panthers · 📍 [[the panther townhouse]]
the hunter the panthers
The hunter danced several rounds, and then said it was growing late and he must be getting home.
Myth 73 · The Underground Panthers
the hunter the panthers
So the panthers opened the door and he went out, and at once found himself alone in the woods again, and it was winter and very cold, with snow on the ground and on all the trees.
Myth 73 · The Underground Panthers · within seven days after his return
the hunter
He died within seven days after his return, because he had already begun to take on the panther nature, and so could not live again with men.
Myth 74 · The Tsundige'wi
Tsundige'wi
This time, though, the Tsundige'wi had their clubs, and they struck the birds on the neck, as the Cherokee had shown them, and killed so many that at last the others were glad to spread their wings and fly away again to the south.
Myth 74 · The Tsundige'wi · afterwards
Tsundige'wi
They heard afterwards that the birds came again several times, but that the Tsundige'wi always drove them off with their clubs, until a flock of sandhill cranes came. They were so tall that the little men could not reach up to strike them on the neck, and so at last the cranes killed them all.
Myth 75 · Origin of the Bear: The Bear Songs · After a while
until they noticed that long brown hair was beginning to grow out all over his body.
Myth 75 · Origin of the Bear: The Bear Songs
the boy (Myth 75) the father (Myth 75) the mother (Myth 75)
If you will come with me, there is plenty for all of us and you will never have to work for it; but if you want to come you must first fast seven days.
Myth 75 · Origin of the Bear: The Bear Songs
the father (Myth 75) the mother (Myth 75)
The father and mother talked it over and then told the headmen of the clan. They held a council about the matter and after everything had been said they decided: "Here we must work hard and have not always enough. There he says there is always plenty without work. We will go with him."
Myth 75 · Origin of the Bear: The Bear Songs · 📍 [[the mountains]] · on the seventh morning
the boy (Myth 75) the father (Myth 75) the mother (Myth 75)
So they fasted seven days, and on the seventh morning all the Ani'-Tsâ'gûhi left the settlement and started for the mountains as the boy led the way.
Myth 76 · The Bear Man · 📍 [[the mountains]]
the hunter (Myth 76) the bear (Myth 76)
At last he stopped and pulled the arrows out of his side and gave them to the man, saying, "It is of no use for you to shoot at me, for you can not kill me. Come to my house and let us live together."
Myth 76 · The Bear Man · 📍 [[the cave]] · all winter
the hunter (Myth 76) the bear (Myth 76)
The hunter lived in the cave with the bear all winter, until long hair like that of a bear began to grow all over his body and he began to act like a bear; but he still walked like a man.
Myth 76 · The Bear Man · 📍 [[the cave]]
the hunter (Myth 76) the bear (Myth 76)
The hunters came and looked inside and saw the bear and killed him with their arrows. Then they dragged him outside the cave and skinned the body and cut it in quarters to carry home.
Myth 76 · The Bear Man
the hunter (Myth 76) the bear (Myth 76)
Before they left the man piled leaves over the spot where they had cut up the bear, and when they had gone a little way he looked behind and saw the bear rise up out of the leaves, shake himself, and go back into the woods.
Myth 76 · The Bear Man · 📍 [[a house]] · for seven days and nights
So they shut him up alone in a house and tried to keep very still about it, but the news got out and his wife heard of it.
Myth 76 · The Bear Man · after four or five days
the hunter (Myth 76) his wife (Myth 76)
She came every day and begged so hard that at last after four or five days they let her have him. She took him home with her
Myth 76 · The Bear Man · in a short time
the hunter (Myth 76) his wife (Myth 76)
She took him home with her, but in a short time he died, because he still had a bear's nature and could not live like a man.
Myth 77 · The Great Leech of Tlanusi'yi · Just before the Removal, sixty years ago
the mother (Myth 77) the child (Myth 77)
She laid the child down on the rock and was preparing the line when the water suddenly rose and swept over the ledge, and would have carried off the child but that the mother ran in time to save it.
Myth 78 · The Nûñne'hi and Other Spirit Folk · Part 1 · 📍 [[Nottely town]] · one day
the man (Myth 78) the stranger (Myth 78)
The boy said, "No"; that he was going home to dinner soon. "Come right up to my house," said the stranger, "and I'll give you a good dinner there and bring you home again in the morning." So the boy went with him up the river until they came to a house, when they went in
Myth 78 · The Nûñne'hi and Other Spirit Folk · Part 1 · 📍 [[Nottely town]] · that night
the man (Myth 78) the stranger (Myth 78)
the man's wife and the other people there were very glad to see him, and gave him a fine dinner, and were very kind to him. While they were eating a man that the boy knew very well came in and spoke to him, so that he felt quite at home. After dinner he played with the other children and slept there that night
Myth 78 · The Nûñne'hi and Other Spirit Folk · Part 1 · 📍 [[Nottely town]] · in the morning
the man (Myth 78) the stranger (Myth 78)
in the morning, after breakfast, the man got ready to take him home. They went down a path that had a cornfield on one side and a peach orchard fenced in on the other, until they came to another trail, and the man said, "Go along this trail across that ridge and you will come to the river road that will bring you straight to your home, and now I'll go back to the house." So the man went back to the house
Myth 78 · The Nûñne'hi and Other Spirit Folk · Part 1 · 📍 [[Nottely town]] · in the morning
the man (Myth 78) his mother (Myth 78)
He thought it very queer, but somehow he was not frightened, and went on until he came to the river trail in sight of his home. There were a great many people standing about talking, and when they saw him they ran toward him shouting, "Here he is! He is not drowned or killed in the mountains!"
Myth 78 · The Nûñne'hi and Other Spirit Folk · Part 1 · 📍 [[Nottely town]]
the man (Myth 78) his mother (Myth 78)
But Udsi'skala said, "I haven't seen you. I was out all day in my canoe hunting you. It was one of the Nûñne'hi that made himself look like me." Then his mother said, "You say you had dinner there?" "Yes, and I had plenty, too," said the boy; but his mother answered, "There is no house there--only trees and rocks--but we hear a drum sometimes in the big bald above. The people you saw were the Nûñne'hi."
Myth 78 · The Nûñne'hi and Other Spirit Folk · Part 2 · until at last
Nûñne'hi
The Indians said it was a Nûñne'hi townhouse, and never liked to go near the place or even to talk about it, until at last some logs thrown in by the traders were allowed to remain there, and then they concluded that the Nûñne'hi, annoyed by the persecution of the white men, had abandoned their townhouse forever.
Myth 78 · The Nûñne'hi and Other Spirit Folk · Part 2 · often
Yûñwi Tsunsdi'
and often when people have been lost in the mountains, especially children who have strayed away from their parents, the Yûñwi Tsunsdi' have found them and taken care of them and brought them back to their homes.
Myth 78 · The Nûñne'hi and Other Spirit Folk · Part 2 · Once
the hunter Little People
They brought him in and were kind to him, and he was with them some time; but when he left they warned him that he must not tell or he would die.
Myth 78 · The Nûñne'hi and Other Spirit Folk · Part 2 · in a few days
the hunter
For a long time he refused to say, until at last he could not hold out any longer, but told the story, and in a few days he died.
Myth 78 · The Nûñne'hi and Other Spirit Folk · Part 2 · During the smallpox among the East Cherokee just after the war
the sick man Little People
During the smallpox among the East Cherokee just after the war one sick man wandered off, and his friends searched, but could not find him. After several weeks he came back and said that the Little People had found him and taken him to one of their caves and tended him until he was cured.
Myth 78 · The Nûñne'hi and Other Spirit Folk · Part 2 · 📍 [[the head of Oconaluftee]] · after sixteen days
Tsantawû' Little People
About twenty-five years ago a man named Tsantawû' was lost in the mountains on the head of Oconaluftee. It was winter time and very cold and his friends thought he must be dead, but after sixteen days he came back and said that the Little People had found him and taken him to their cave, where he had been well treated, and given plenty of everything to eat except bread.
Myth 78 · The Nûñne'hi and Other Spirit Folk · Part 2 · he lived only a few days
Tsantawû'
When he reached home his legs were frozen to the knees and he lived only a few days.
Myth 78 · The Nûñne'hi and Other Spirit Folk · Part 3 · 📍 [[the woods]] · once
[[De'tsata]]
De'tsata was once a boy who ran away to the woods to avoid a scratching and tries to keep himself invisible ever since.
Myth 78 · The Nûñne'hi and Other Spirit Folk · Part 3
[[De'tsata]]
He is mischievous and sometimes hides an arrow from the bird hunter, who may have shot it off into a perfectly clear space, but looks and looks without finding it. Then the hunter says, "De'tsata, you have my arrow, and if you don't give it up I'll scratch you," and when he looks again he finds it.
Myth 79 · The Removed Townhouses · 📍 [[Anisgayâ'yi]] · On the seventh day
the people of Anisgayâ'yi town the Nûñne'hi
They steadied themselves again and bore the rest of the townhouse, with all the people in it, to the top of Tsuda'ye`lûñ'yi (Lone peak), near the head of Cheowa, where we can still see it, changed long ago to solid rock, but the people are invisible and immortal.
Myth 79 · The Removed Townhouses · 📍 [[Du'stiya`lûñ'yi]] · at the end of seven days
the people of another town the Nûñne'hi
The people of another town, on Hiwassee, at the place which we call now Du'stiya`lûñ'yi, where Shooting creek comes in, also prayed and fasted, and at the end of seven days the Nûñne'hi came and took them away down under the water.
Myth 79 · The Removed Townhouses · 📍 [[Gusti']] · one night
the people
In Tennessee river, near Kingston, 18 miles below Loudon, Tennessee, is a place which the Cherokee call Gusti', where there once was a settlement long ago, but one night while the people were gathered in the townhouse for a dance the bank caved in and carried them all down into the river.
Myth 80 · The Spirit Defenders of Nikwasi' · one morning just before daybreak
The Nikwasi' men seized their arms and rushed out to meet the attack, but after a long, hard fight they found themselves overpowered and began to retreat
Myth 80 · The Spirit Defenders of Nikwasi'
Then the Nûñne'hi chief told them they had deserved their punishment for attacking a peaceful tribe, and he spared their lives and told them to go home and take the news to their people.
Myth 80 · The Spirit Defenders of Nikwasi' · once
[[the old man (Myth 80)]]
On coming out at once with the gun he was surprised to find a large body of strange warriors driving back the enemy. It was no time for questions, and taking his place with the others, they fought hard until the enemy was pressed back up the creek and finally broke and retreated across the mountain. When it was over and there was time to breathe again, the old man turned to thank his new friends, but found that he was alone--they had disappeared as though the mountain had swallowed them.
Myth 81 · Tsul`kalû', the Slant-Eyed Giant · Part 1 · 📍 [[Kanuga]] · One dark night
One dark night a stranger came to the âsi wanting to court the girl, but she told him her mother would let her marry no one but a good hunter. "Well," said the stranger, "I am a great hunter," so she let him come in, and he stayed all night.
Myth 81 · Tsul`kalû', the Slant-Eyed Giant · Part 1 · 📍 [[the âsi]] · when it was daylight
the mother (Myth 81) Tsul`kalû'
The old woman came and looked in, and there she saw a great giant, with long slanting eyes (tsul
kalû'), lying doubled up on the floor, with his head against the rafters in the left-hand corner at the back, and his toes scraping the roof in the right-hand corner by the door. She gave only one look and ran back to the house, crying, Usga'seti'yu! Usga'se`ti'yu!
Myth 81 · Tsul`kalû', the Slant-Eyed Giant · Part 1 · 📍 [[Tsunegûñ'yi]] · Then
Then he went off in the direction of Tsunegûñ'yi.
Myth 81 · Tsul`kalû', the Slant-Eyed Giant · Part 1 · 📍 [[Tsunegûñ'yi]] · One night after the girl had gone to bed in the âsi
Tsul`kalû' the girl (Myth 81) the baby girl (Myth 81) the mother (Myth 81)
He took it up and carried it back to the âsi, and as he walked it took form and began to grow, until, when he reached the âsi, it was a baby girl that he was carrying. He gave it to his wife and said, "Your mother does not like me and abuses our child, so come and let us go to my home."
Myth 81 · Tsul`kalû', the Slant-Eyed Giant · Part 1 · 📍 [[Tsunegûñ'yi]] · after telling her mother good-bye
Tsul`kalû' the girl (Myth 81) the baby girl (Myth 81) the mother (Myth 81)
The girl wanted to be with her husband, so, after telling her mother good-bye, she took up the child and they went off together to Tsunegûñ'yi.
Myth 81 · Tsul`kalû', the Slant-Eyed Giant · Part 1 · 📍 [[Kanuga]] · when he heard that his sister was married
the older brother (Myth 81) the mother (Myth 81)
He was sorry to see his mother so lonely, so he said he would go after his sister and try to find her and bring her back.
Myth 81 · Tsul`kalû', the Slant-Eyed Giant · Part 2 · 📍 [[Tsunegûñ'yi]]
the older brother (Myth 81) the girl (Myth 81)
He saw his sister dancing among them and called to her to come out. She turned when she heard his voice, and as soon as the drumming stopped for a while she came out to him, finding no trouble to climb down the rock, and leading her two little children by the hand.
Myth 81 · Tsul`kalû', the Slant-Eyed Giant · Part 2 · After four years had passed
the girl (Myth 81) the mother (Myth 81) the older brother (Myth 81)
After four years had passed she came one day to her mother's house and said her husband had been hunting in the woods near by, and they were getting ready to start home to-morrow, and if her mother and brother would come early in the morning they could see her husband.
Myth 81 · Tsul`kalû', the Slant-Eyed Giant · Part 2 · the next morning
the mother (Myth 81) the older brother (Myth 81)
They came to the place early the next morning, but Tsul`kalû' and his family were already gone. On the drying poles they found the bodies of freshly killed deer hanging, as the girl had promised
Myth 81 · Tsul`kalû', the Slant-Eyed Giant · Part 2 · 📍 [[Tsunegûñ'yi]]
the older brother (Myth 81) the girl (Myth 81)
He asked to see her husband, and this time she told him to come inside with her. They went in as through a doorway, and inside he found it like a great townhouse.
Myth 81 · Tsul`kalû', the Slant-Eyed Giant · Part 2 · 📍 [[Kanuga]]
The young man went back to Kanuga and told the people.
Myth 81 · Tsul`kalû', the Slant-Eyed Giant · Part 2 · 📍 [[the townhouse]] · on the seventh day
At once the roar stopped and for some time there was silence. Then they heard it again, but as if it were going farther away, and then farther and farther, until at last it died away in the direction of Tsunegûñ'yi, and then all was still again. The people came out from the townhouse, but there was silence, and they could see nothing but what had been seven days before.
Myth 81 · Tsul`kalû', the Slant-Eyed Giant · Part 2 · 📍 [[Kanuga]]
But the voice answered, "Now you can never see me." Then the young man could not say any more, and he went back to Kanuga.
Myth 82 · Kana'sta, the Lost Settlement · 📍 [[Kana'sta]] · one day
the chief two strangers
We are always happy, and we have come to invite you to live with us in our town over there
Myth 82 · Kana'sta, the Lost Settlement · 📍 [[the townhouse]]
the chief
The chief called his people together into the townhouse and they held a council over the matter and decided at last to go with the strangers. They got all their property ready for moving, and then went again into the townhouse and began their fast.
Myth 82 · Kana'sta, the Lost Settlement · 📍 [[Tsuwa`tel'da]] · on the morning of the seventh
the two men the people of Kana'sta
They fasted six days, and on the morning of the seventh, before yet the sun was high, they saw a great company coming along the trail from the west, led by the two men who had stopped with the chief. They seemed just like Cherokee from another settlement, and after a friendly meeting they took up a part of the goods to be carried, and the two parties started back together for Tsuwa`tel'da.
Myth 82 · Kana'sta, the Lost Settlement · 📍 [[Tsuwa`tel'da]]
the people of Kana'sta the mountain people
Inside they found an open country and a town, with houses ranged in two long rows from east to west. The mountain people lived in the houses on the south side, and they had made ready the other houses for the new comers, but even after all the people of Kana'sta, with their children and belongings, had moved in, there were still a large number of houses waiting ready for the next who might come.
Myth 82 · Kana'sta, the Lost Settlement · 📍 [[Tsuwa`tel'da]]
the man the chief
Then the chief led the man through the cave to the outside of the mountain and left him there
Myth 82 · Kana'sta, the Lost Settlement · 📍 [[Tsuwa`tel'da]]
the man
but when the man looked back he saw no cave, but only the solid rock.
Myth 82 · Kana'sta, the Lost Settlement · 📍 [[Tsuwa`tel'da]]
the people of the lost settlement
The people of the lost settlement were never seen again, and they are still living in Tsuwa`tel'da.
Myth 82 · Kana'sta, the Lost Settlement · 📍 [[Tsuwa`tel'da]] · That night
a party of hunters
That night they were aroused from sleep by a noise as of stones thrown at them from among the trees, but when they searched they could find nobody, and were so frightened that they gathered up their guns and pouches and left the place.
Myth 83 · Tsuwe'nahi: A Legend of Pilot Knob · 📍 [[Tsuwa`tel'da]]
the chief (Myth 83) Tsuwe'nahi
They were all glad to see him, and brought him to their chief, who took him into his own house and showed him a seat near the fire.
Myth 83 · Tsuwe'nahi: A Legend of Pilot Knob · 📍 [[Tsuwa`tel'da]]
the chief (Myth 83) Tsuwe'nahi
Then he said, "You are going back to the settlement, but you will never be satisfied there any more. Whenever you want to come to us, you know the way."
Myth 83 · Tsuwe'nahi: A Legend of Pilot Knob · 📍 [[Tsuwa`tel'da]] · In two days
Tsuwe'nahi the hunter (Myth 83)
In two days Tsuwe'nahi came, and this time he had two girls with him.
Myth 83 · Tsuwe'nahi: A Legend of Pilot Knob · 📍 [[Kanuga]] · At the next dance
Tsuwe'nahi the hunter (Myth 83)
At the next dance in Kanuga they told all they had seen at Tsuwa`tel'da, what a large town was there and how kind everybody was, and this time--because there were two of them--the people believed it.
Myth 83 · Tsuwe'nahi: A Legend of Pilot Knob · 📍 [[Tsuwa`tel'da]] · at the end of seven days
He went away and the others fasted, until at the end of seven days he came for them and they went with him to Tsuwa`tel'da, and their friends in the settlement never saw them again.
Myth 84 · The Man Who Married the Thunder's Sister · 📍 [[the old town of Sâkwi'yi]] · seven days later
the young warrior (Myth 84) the younger woman (Myth 84)
a young warrior had fallen in love with one of the sisters on account of her beautiful hair, and after the manner of the Cherokee had already asked her through an old man if she would marry him and let him live with her. To this the young woman had replied that her brother at home must first be consulted
Myth 84 · The Man Who Married the Thunder's Sister · In seven nights
the young warrior (Myth 84) the younger woman (Myth 84) the other sister (Myth 84)
They told him their brother was willing, and after the dance they would conduct the young man to their home
Myth 84 · The Man Who Married the Thunder's Sister · 📍 [[Tallulah river]] · about daylight
the young warrior (Myth 84) the younger woman (Myth 84) the other sister (Myth 84)
He danced with them again and about daylight the three came away just before the dance closed, so as to avoid being followed, and started off together.
Myth 84 · The Man Who Married the Thunder's Sister · 📍 [[Ugûñ'yi (Tallulah falls)]]
the young warrior (Myth 84) the younger woman (Myth 84) the brother (Myth 84)
The women entered, while the warrior stopped at the mouth; but they said, "This is our house; come in and our brother will soon be home; he is coming now."
Myth 84 · The Man Who Married the Thunder's Sister
the young warrior (Myth 84) the brother (Myth 84)
The brother got very angry and called him a coward, and then it was as if lightening flashed from his eyes and struck the young man, and a terrible crash of thunder stretched him senseless.
Myth 84 · The Man Who Married the Thunder's Sister · in seven days
His friends questioned him closely, and, forgetting the warning, he told the story; but in seven days he died, for no one can come back from the underworld and tell it and live.
Myth 85 · The Haunted Whirlpool · once
one man (Myth 85) a great fish (Myth 85)
one man was seized by a great fish and was never seen again.
Myth 86 · Yahula · Years ago, long before the Revolution
he had been lost in the mountains, and that the Nûñne'hi, the Immortals, had found him and brought him to their town, where he had been kept ever since
Myth 86 · Yahula · Some time after
His wife and children and brother begged him to stay, but he said that he could not; it was either life with the Immortals or death with his own people
Myth 86 · Yahula · After that
He came often, but at last their entreaties grew so urgent that the Nûñne'hi must have been offended, and he came no more.
Myth 86 · Yahula · for a time after Yahula had disappeared
There was one man who had been his friend, who sang the same songs for a time after Yahula had disappeared, but he died suddenly
Myth 87 · The Water Cannibals · 📍 [[Tikwali'tsi]] · one morning
one morning an old woman came in at the door. She looked just like the other women of the settlement, but he did not know her.
Myth 87 · The Water Cannibals
the man (Myth 87) the old woman (Myth 87)
When she came to the water she stepped in and he followed, and there was a road under the water, and another country there just like that above.
Myth 87 · The Water Cannibals · every day
the man (Myth 87) the old woman (Myth 87)
So it was every day, until soon he was well and strong again.
Myth 87 · The Water Cannibals · 📍 [[Tikwali'tsi]]
the man (Myth 87) the old woman (Myth 87)
Then she told him he might go home now, but he must be sure not to speak to anyone for seven days, and if any of his friends should question him he must make signs as if his throat were sore and keep silent.
Myth 87 · The Water Cannibals · 📍 [[Tikwali'tsi]] · until the seven days were past
when he began to talk again and told the whole story.
Myth 88 · First Contact with Whites
the Indian the white man (Myth 88)
While they were in this happy frame of mind some white men came up, and this time the Indians shook hands with them and they have been friends after a fashion ever since.
Myth 88 · First Contact with Whites · At the creation
the Indian the white man (Myth 88)
At the creation an ulûñsû'ti was given to the white man, and a piece of silver to the Indian. But the white man despised the stone and threw it away, while the Indian did the same with the silver. In going about the white man afterward found the silver piece and put it into his pocket and has prized it ever since. The Indian, in like manner, found the ulûñsû'ti where the white man had thrown it. He picked it up and has kept it since as his talisman, as money is the talismanic power of the white man.
Myth 88 · First Contact with Whites
the Indian the white man (Myth 88)
Each was instructed to take good care of his gift and make the best use of it, but the Indian was so neglectful of his book that the white man soon stole it from him, leaving the bow in its place
Myth 88 · First Contact with Whites
the negro (Myth 88) a white man (Myth 88)
The negro made the first locomotive for a toy and put it on a wooden track and was having great fun with it when a white man came along, watched until he saw how to run it, and then killed the negro and took the locomotive for himself.
Myth 89 · The Iroquois Wars · Part 1 · 📍 [[the Cherokee country]] · Years afterward
a chief
Years afterward, when he had grown to manhood and had become a chief in the tribe, he learned of his foreign origin, and was filled at once with an overpowering longing to go back to the south to find his people and live and die among them. He journeyed to the Cherokee country
Myth 89 · The Iroquois Wars · Part 1 · 📍 [[the Cherokee country]]
a chief
Being unable to find his kindred, he made only a short visit and returned again to the Seneca.
Myth 89 · The Iroquois Wars · Part 2 · 📍 [[Ta'likwa]]
By this time the word had gone out that an Iroquois was in the chief's house, and the men of the town had left their work and seized their guns to kill him, but the chief heard them coming and standing in the doorway kept them off, saying: "This man has come here on a peace mission, and before you kill him you must first kill me." They finally listened to him, and allowed the messenger to go out and bring his companions to the chief's house, where they were all taken care of.
Myth 89 · The Iroquois Wars · Part 2 · 📍 [[a few miles south of Tahlequah]] · in the War of the Rebellion
It is thought that they were destroyed in the War of the Rebellion when the house of John Ross, a few miles south of Tahlequah, was burned by the Confederate Cherokee under their general, Stand Watie.
Myth 90 · Hiadeoni, the Seneca · 📍 [[Cherokee country]] · that night
Hiadeoni one of the dancers (Myth 90)
He watched his opportunity, and when one of the dancers went out from the ring into the bushes he dispatched him with his hatchet. In this way he killed two men that night in the skirts of the woods without exciting alarm, and took their scalps and retreated.
Myth 90 · Hiadeoni, the Seneca · It was late
Hiadeoni the young man (Myth 90)
Watching here, he saw a young man come out, and killed him as he had done the others, and took his scalp.
Myth 90 · Hiadeoni, the Seneca · a short time before
Hiadeoni the mother (Myth 90) the young man (Myth 90)
She, supposing him to be her son, whom she had a short time before left lying there, said, "My son, I am going to such a place, and will not be back till morning." He made a suitable response, and the old woman went out.
Myth 90 · Hiadeoni, the Seneca · 📍 [[the Genesee]] · then
He sprang up instantly and fled; but the early dawn had revealed his inroad, and he was hotly pursued. Light of foot, and having the start, he succeeded in reaching and concealing himself in a remote piece of woods, where he laid till night, and then pursued his way toward the Genesee, which, in due time he reached, bringing his three Cherokee scalps as trophies of his victory and prowess.
Myth 92 · Escape of the Seneca Boys
He took the boys and adopted them for his own, and they grew up with him until they were large and strong enough to go hunting for themselves.
Myth 92 · Escape of the Seneca Boys
the older brother (Myth 92) the younger brother (Myth 92)
one day the older one said to his brother, "Let's kill the old man and run away."
Myth 92 · Escape of the Seneca Boys · 📍 [[the mountains]] · A few days later
the older brother (Myth 92) the younger brother (Myth 92) the old man (Myth 92)
When they were well away from the settlement the boys killed the old man, took all the meat and parched corn meal they could easily carry, and started to make their way back to the north, keeping away from the main trail and following the ridge of the mountains.
Myth 92 · Escape of the Seneca Boys · 📍 [[the village]]
the older brother (Myth 92) the younger brother (Myth 92) their mother (Myth 92)
Then the mother recognized her two sons, and said, "Let us go back and dance for the dead come to life," and they were all very glad and went into the village together.
Myth 93 · The Unseen Helpers
Ganogwioeoñ, a war chief of the Seneca, led a party against the Cherokee. When they came near the first town he left his men outside and went in alone.
Myth 93 · The Unseen Helpers · Just before daylight
Ganogwioeoñ the old woman (Myth 93) the granddaughter (Myth 93)
They talked together, and he told her that in the morning she must bring the chief's daughter to him. She promised to do it, and told him where he should wait. Just before daylight he left the house.
Myth 93 · The Unseen Helpers · In the morning
the granddaughter (Myth 93) the chief's daughter (Myth 93) Ganogwioeoñ
In the morning the girl went to the chief's house and said to his daughter, "Let's go out together for wood." The chief's daughter got ready and went with her, and when they came to the place where Ganogwioeoñ was hiding he sprang out and killed her, but did not hurt the other girl.
Myth 93 · The Unseen Helpers
He killed the first one that came up, but when he tried to shoot the next one the bow broke and the Cherokee got him.
Myth 93 · The Unseen Helpers
They decided to burn the soles of his feet until they were blistered, then to put grains of corn under the skin and to chase him with clubs until they had beaten him to death.
Myth 93 · The Unseen Helpers
When they gave the word to start Ganogwioeoñ pulled the rope away from the old man and broke through the line and ran until he had left them all out of sight.
Myth 93 · The Unseen Helpers · In the morning
In the morning they crawled out and told him to stick out his feet again. They licked them again and then said to him, "Now we have done all we can do this time. Go on until you come to the place where you made a bark shelter a long time ago, and under the bark you will find something to help you."
Myth 93 · The Unseen Helpers · In the morning
He went on until about noon, when he came to the bark shelter, and under it he found a knife, an awl, and a flint, that his men had hidden there two years before.
Myth 93 · The Unseen Helpers · At noon
At noon he came to a burning log, and near it was a dead bear, which was still warm, as if it had been killed only a short time before.
Myth 93 · The Unseen Helpers · At noon
He went on and about midday he came to two young bears just killed. He skinned them and dressed the skins, then roasted as much meat as he wanted and lay down to sleep. In the morning he made leggings of the skins, took some of the meat, and started on.
Myth 93 · The Unseen Helpers · about noon
As they said, about noon he found two fawns just killed. He turned the skins and made himself a pair of moccasins, then cut some of the meat, and traveled on until evening, when he made a fire and had supper.
Myth 93 · The Unseen Helpers · In the morning
Ganogwioeoñ a white wolf (Myth 93) a black wolf (Myth 93)
In the morning when he woke up they were still there--two men as he thought--but after he had said the last words to them and started on, he turned again to look, and one was a white wolf and the other a black wolf.
Myth 94 · Hatcinoñdoñ's Escape from the Cherokee · Once
When the canes had burned down the Cherokee looked for his body in the ashes, but could not find any trace of it, so they went home.
Myth 94 · Hatcinoñdoñ's Escape from the Cherokee
He went in and there sat Haweñni'o, the Thunder-god.
Myth 94 · Hatcinoñdoñ's Escape from the Cherokee
He found his party and told the warriors what he had seen.
Myth 94 · Hatcinoñdoñ's Escape from the Cherokee
They met the Cherokee and went home with scalps.
Myth 94 · Hatcinoñdoñ's Escape from the Cherokee · 📍 [[the Cherokee town]] · this time
He led another party against the Cherokee, but this time he was taken and carried to the Cherokee town.
Myth 94 · Hatcinoñdoñ's Escape from the Cherokee · 📍 [[the Cherokee town]]
They decided that he should be tortured with fire, so he was tied to a tree, and the wood was piled around him.
Myth 94 · Hatcinoñdoñ's Escape from the Cherokee · Pretty soon
Hatcinoñdoñ the old woman (Myth 94)
He struggled and finally got his limbs free. Then she said, "Now you are free.
Myth 94 · Hatcinoñdoñ's Escape from the Cherokee · After dark
He listened until he was sure the men were asleep, then he took one of their hatchets and killed all three, one after another.
Myth 94 · Hatcinoñdoñ's Escape from the Cherokee · In the morning
Then he gave the Seneca shout--Gowe'!--three times and his friends ran out to meet him. They had been afraid that he was killed, but were glad now that they had waited for him. They went home together.
Myth 95 · Hemp-Carrier · 📍 [[Cheowa]] · shortly before the final peace between the two Nations
the father of the noted chief Tsunu'lahûñ'ski
As soon as the news was brought to the settlements on Hiwassee and Cheowa a party was made under Tâle'danigi'ski, "Hemp-carrier," to follow and take vengeance on the enemy. Among others of the party was the father of the noted chief Tsunu'lahûñ'ski, or Junaluska, who (Junaluska) died on Cheowa about 1855.
Myth 95 · Hemp-Carrier · 📍 [[the far northern Seneca country]]
the father of the noted chief Tsunu'lahûñ'ski
On the way they met another war party headed for the south, and the Cherokee killed them all and took their scalps.
Myth 95 · Hemp-Carrier · 📍 [[the Seneca town]] · almost night
the father of the noted chief Tsunu'lahûñ'ski
The avengers hid themselves near the spring, and as the dancers came down to drink the Cherokee silently killed one and another until they had counted as many scalps as had been taken on Cheowa, and still the dancers in the townhouse never thought that enemies were near.
Myth 95 · Hemp-Carrier · 📍 [[the Seneca town]] · in the darkness
the father of the noted chief Tsunu'lahûñ'ski
There was a hot pursuit in the darkness, but the Cherokee knew the trails and were light and active runners, and managed to get away with the loss of only a single man.
Myth 96 · The Seneca Peacemakers
The Owl
but in the fight which resulted, the Seneca leader, The Owl, was captured.
Myth 96 · The Seneca Peacemakers · 📍 [[the enemy's camp]]
The Owl
A council was held in the enemy's camp, and it was decided that The Owl should be burned at the stake.
Myth 96 · The Seneca Peacemakers
The Owl
and with that he struck down two men, sprang through the circle of warriors, and was away.
Myth 96 · The Seneca Peacemakers · 📍 [[the Cherokee camp]] · finally
The Owl
Then they seized their weapons and were after him through the woods, but he had had a good start and was running for his life, so that he outran the chase and finally reached the Cherokee camp in safety and rejoined his seven companions.
Myth 96 · The Seneca Peacemakers · then
On this proof of good will the Cherokee then concluded the treaty, and the peacemakers returned to their own country.
Myth 97 · Origin of the Yontoñwisas Dance · 📍 [[a sugar grove]]
the older sister (Myth 97) the younger sister (Myth 97) the baby boy (Myth 97)
Two Seneca women who were sisters, with the baby boy of the older one, were in a sugar grove near their home when a war party of Cherokee came upon them and carried them off.
Myth 97 · Origin of the Yontoñwisas Dance · that night
the older sister (Myth 97) the younger sister (Myth 97) the baby boy (Myth 97)
Taking out her knife, she cut the rope without waking the men, and then rousing her sister quietly she whispered to her to come. They were going to leave the little boy, but he started to cry, so she said, "Let us die together," and took him up on her back, and the two women hurried away.
Myth 97 · Origin of the Yontoñwisas Dance · 📍 [[the woods]] · In the night
the voice (Myth 97) the younger sister (Myth 97)
In the night a voice spoke to the younger woman, "Is that where you are resting?" and she answered, "Yes." The voice said again, "Keep on, and you will come out at the spot where you were captured. No harm will come to you. To-morrow you will find food."
Myth 97 · Origin of the Yontoñwisas Dance · one night
the voice (Myth 97) the younger sister (Myth 97)
At last one night the voice spoke again to the younger sister and said, "You are on the right road, and to-morrow you will be on the border of the Seneca country. You will find food. That is all."
Myth 97 · Origin of the Yontoñwisas Dance · 📍 [[the long house]] · at night
the voice (Myth 97) the younger sister (Myth 97)
Then at night the voice came again to the younger woman, saying: "At noon tomorrow you will reach your home, and the first person you will meet will be your uncle. When you get to the town, you must call the people together and tell them all that has happened. You must go to the long house and take off your skirt and carry it on your shoulder. Then you must go inside and go around once, singing, 'We have come home; we are here.' This is the Yontoñwisas song, and it shall be for women only. Know now that we are the Hadionyageonoñ, the Sky People, who have watched over you all this time."
Myth 97 · Origin of the Yontoñwisas Dance · About noon
the older sister (Myth 97) the younger sister (Myth 97) their uncle (Myth 97)
About noon they heard the sound of chopping, and when they went to the place they found it was their uncle cutting blocks to make spoons. He did not see them until they spoke, and at first could hardly believe that they were living women, because he knew that they had been taken by the Cherokee. He was very glad to see them, and as they walked on to the town they told him all they had been commanded to do by the Sky People. When they arrived at the town, he called all the people together, and they went to the long house.
Myth 97 · Origin of the Yontoñwisas Dance · 📍 [[the long house]]
the older sister (Myth 97) the younger sister (Myth 97)
There the two women sang their song and did everything exactly as they had been told to do, and when it was over they said, "This is all," and sat down. This is the same Yontoñwisas song that is still sung by the women.
Myth 98 · Ga'na's Adventures Among the Cherokee · Part 1 · hereafter
We must go to the Cherokee and see if we can't agree to be friendly together and live in peace hereafter.
Myth 98 · Ga'na's Adventures Among the Cherokee · Part 1
the man under the brushwood (Myth 98) Shada'ge'a
As soon as he was eating the man put his hand up cautiously and caught hold of the bird's tail and held on to it. Shada'ge'a rose up and flew away, and the man had pulled out one feather.
Myth 98 · Ga'na's Adventures Among the Cherokee · Part 1 · Next day
We have decided to be friendly and to bury our weapons, these knives and hatchets, so that no man may take them up again.
Myth 98 · Ga'na's Adventures Among the Cherokee · Part 1 · now
We are glad you have accepted our offer, and now we have all thrown our weapons in a pile together, and the white wampum hangs between us, and the belt shall be as long as a man and hang down to the ground.
Myth 98 · Ga'na's Adventures Among the Cherokee · Part 1
Ga'na' the young man (Myth 98)
Then the young man came up to Ga'na' and said, "Father, I am glad to see you. Father, we will go home," and he led Ga'na' to his own mother's house, the house where Ga'na' had spent the first night.
Myth 98 · Ga'na's Adventures Among the Cherokee · Part 1 · when Ga'na' came to the house
The young man was really his son, and when Ga'na' came to the house he recognized the woman as his wife who had been carried off long ago by the Cherokee.
Myth 98 · Ga'na's Adventures Among the Cherokee · Part 2
the Seneca runner (Myth 98) the other (Myth 98)
They ran the first race, and when they reached the post the Seneca runner was just the measure of his body behind the other.
Myth 98 · Ga'na's Adventures Among the Cherokee · Part 2
the Seneca runner (Myth 98) the other (Myth 98)
When they got to the middle the Seneca runner said to the other, "Do your best now, for I am going to do mine," and as he said it he pulled out and left the other far behind and won the race.
Myth 99 · The Shawano Wars · Part 2 · at night
a hunter (Myth 99) [[an enemy (Myth 99)]]
until suddenly an enemy sprang out upon him from the darkness and bore him to the earth. But the Cherokee was watchful, and putting up his hands he seized the other by the arms, and with a mighty effort threw him backward into the fire. The dazed Shawano lay there a moment squirming upon the coals, then bounded to his feet and ran into the woods, howling with pain.
Myth 99 · The Shawano Wars · Part 2 · 📍 [[the Smoky mountains]] · On another occasion
a hunter (Myth 99) a man (Myth 99)
Keeping close to the ground, the Cherokee crept up without being discovered until within gunshot, then springing to his feet he shot the man in the tree
Myth 99 · The Shawano Wars · Part 2 · 📍 [[Itsâ'ti]] · In one hard fight with the Shawano
In one hard fight with the Shawano, near the town, he overpowered his man and stabbed him through both arms. Running cords through the holes he tied his prisoner's arms and brought him thus into Itsâ'ti
Myth 99 · The Shawano Wars · Part 2 · 📍 [[Itsâ'ti]]
where he was put to death by the women with such tortures that his courage broke and he begged them to kill him at once.
Myth 99 · The Shawano Wars · Part 2 · 📍 [[western Pennsylvania]]
and accidentally killing there some Delawares who occupied the country jointly with the Shawano. This involved the Cherokee in a war with the powerful Delawares
Myth 99 · The Shawano Wars · Part 2
The Shawano being thus left alone, and being, moreover, roundly condemned by their friends, the Delawares, as the cause of the whole trouble, had no heart to continue the war and were obliged to make final peace.
Myth 100 · The Raid on Tikwali'tsi · 📍 [[Deep Creek]]
Tawa'li-ukwanûñ'ti
the Shawano in hiding at the ford took them "like fish in a trap" and killed nearly all of them.
Myth 100 · The Raid on Tikwali'tsi · 📍 [[Deep Creek]]
Tawa'li-ukwanûñ'ti
they came in behind the Shawano and attacked them, killing a number and forcing the others to retreat toward the Smoky mountains, with the Cherokee in pursuit.
Myth 100 · The Raid on Tikwali'tsi
two Cherokee prisoners
their captors took them, bound as they were, and threw them over a cliff.
Myth 100 · The Raid on Tikwali'tsi
An old conjurer of their own party
The pursuers coming up split his head with a hatchet and threw his body over the same cliff
Myth 100 · The Raid on Tikwali'tsi · 📍 [[the gap just below Clingman's dome]] · Here
Tawa'li-ukwanûñ'ti
Here the Cherokee gave up the pursuit and returned to their homes.
Myth 101 · The Last Shawano Invasion · 📍 [[Kanuga]] · Perhaps a year after the raid upon Tikwali'tsi
a woman two children
came down upon the exposed settlement of Kanuga, on Pigeon river, and carried off a woman and two children whom they found gathering berries near the town.
Myth 101 · The Last Shawano Invasion
their leader
their leader himself being among the first killed
Myth 101 · The Last Shawano Invasion
the captives
The Cherokee released the captives, whom they found tied to trees
Myth 102 · The False Warriors of Chilhowee · 📍 [[Cowee]]
Gûñskali'ski the warriors
Here they concealed themselves near the path until a party of three or four unsuspecting townspeople came by, when they rushed out and killed them, took their scalps and a gun belonging to a man named Gûñskali'ski
Myth 102 · The False Warriors of Chilhowee · 📍 [[Chilhowee]]
the warriors
where they showed the fresh scalps and the gun, and told how they had met the Shawano in the north and defeated them without losing a man.
Myth 102 · The False Warriors of Chilhowee · 📍 [[Cowee]]
The gunstocker, whose, name was Gûlsadihi', returned home to Cowee, and there heard for the first time how a Shawano war party had surprised some of the town people, killed several, and taken their scalps and a gun. He understood it all then, and told the chief that the mischief had been done, not by a hostile tribe, but by the false men of Chilhowee.
Myth 102 · The False Warriors of Chilhowee · 📍 [[Cowee]]
He understood it all then, and told the chief that the mischief had been done, not by a hostile tribe, but by the false men of Chilhowee.
Myth 102 · The False Warriors of Chilhowee · 📍 [[Chilhowee]] · on the night the dance was to begin
Gûlsadihi' the woman
As they crossed the stream below the town they met a woman coming for water and took their first revenge by killing her.
Myth 102 · The False Warriors of Chilhowee · 📍 [[Chilhowee]]
Then, without waiting on the drummer, Gûlsadihi' sang, "Cowee will have a ball play with you!"--and everyone knew this was a challenge to battle--and then fiercely: "But if you want to fight now my men are ready to die here!"
Myth 102 · The False Warriors of Chilhowee · 📍 [[Chilhowee]]
the Cowee men the warriors
They left the townhouse, and as they went out they met the Cowee men standing with their guns ready and their hatchets in their belts.
Myth 102 · The False Warriors of Chilhowee · 📍 [[Chilhowee]]
the Cowee men
The Cowee men returned home and organized a strong party of warriors from their own and all the neighboring Middle settlements to go and take vengeance on Chilhowee and on Kuwâ'hi, just below, which had also been concerned in the raid.
Myth 102 · The False Warriors of Chilhowee
the warriors
they found that their enemies had abandoned their homes and fled for refuge to the remoter settlements or to the hostile Shawano in the north.
Myth 103 · Cowee Town · 📍 [[Cowee]]
a Shawano
There is a story, told by Wafford as a fact, of a Shawano who had been a prisoner there, but had escaped to his people in the north
Myth 106 · The Giants from the West · long before her time
[[his grandmother (Myth 106)]]
James Wafford, of the western Cherokee, who was born in Georgia in 1806, says that his grandmother, who must have been born about the middle of the last century, told him that she had heard from the old people that long before her time a party of giants had come once to visit the Cherokee.
Myth 106 · The Giants from the West · 📍 [[the west]] · some time
[[his grandmother (Myth 106)]]
The Cherokee received them as friends, and they stayed some time, and then returned to their home in the west.
Myth 107 · The Lost Cherokee
a part of the tribe
They gave no heed to the entreaties of their friends, but began preparations for the long march, until the others, finding that they could not prevent their going, set to work and did their best to fit them out with pack horses loaded with bread, dried venison, and other supplies.
Myth 107 · The Lost Cherokee
a part of the tribe
At last they came to the Mississippi, and crossed it by the help of those warriors who had been sent with them.
Myth 107 · The Lost Cherokee · 📍 [[the Mississippi]]
a part of the tribe
These then returned to the tribe, while the others kept on to the west. All communication was now at an end.
Myth 107 · The Lost Cherokee · 📍 [[the Mississippi]] · as years went on
small bands of hunters
Still the white man pressed upon the Cherokee and one piece of land after another was sold, until as years went on the dispossessed people began to turn their faces toward the west as their final resting place, and small bands of hunters crossed the Mississippi to learn what might be beyond.
Myth 107 · The Lost Cherokee · 📍 [[at the foot of the great mountains--the Rockies]]
One of these parties a tribe speaking the old Cherokee language
One of these parties pushed on across the plains and there at the foot of the great mountains--the Rockies--they found a tribe speaking the old Cherokee language and living still as the Cherokee had lived before they had ever known the white man or his ways.
Myth 108 · The Massacre of the Ani'-Kuta'ni
one of the Nicotani his wife (Myth 108)
His wife was remarkable for her beauty, and was forcibly abducted and violated by one of the Nicotani while he was absent on the chase.
Myth 108 · The Massacre of the Ani'-Kuta'ni · At length
the young leader of the conspiracy (Myth 108)
At length a daring young man, a member of an influential family, organized a conspiracy among the people for the massacre of the priesthood.
Myth 108 · The Massacre of the Ani'-Kuta'ni
the young leader of the conspiracy (Myth 108) one of the Nicotani
A leader appearing in the person of the young brave whom we have named, the people rose under his direction and killed every Nicotani, young and old.
Myth 109 · The War Medicine · Once
medicine warrior (Myth 109) his grandmother (Myth 109)
Again he made medicine and put her into a small gourd which he fastened to his belt. Then climbing a tree he changed himself to a swamp woodcock, and with one cry he spread his wings and flew across to the other side of the river, where both took their natural shape again and made their way through the woods to another settlement.
Myth 109 · The War Medicine · In the Creek war
Dasi`giya'gi
In the Creek war he put this scale into water and bathed his body with the water, and also burned a piece of the turtle shell and drew a black line around his men with the coal, and he was never wounded and never had a man killed.
Myth 109 · The War Medicine · Once, in a battle with the Shawano
the Cherokee leader (Myth 109) the Shawano captain (Myth 109)
They did this and the Cherokee leader fell dead.
Myth 110 · Incidents of Personal Heroism
Cuhtahlatah the chief (Myth 110)
The Wahnenauhi manuscript has a tradition of an attack upon a Cherokee town and the killing of the chief by a hostile war party.
Myth 110 · Incidents of Personal Heroism · on seeing her husband fall
His wife, whose name was Cuhtahlatah (Gatûñ'lati, "Wild-hemp"?), on seeing her husband fall, snatched up his tomahawk, shouting, "Kill! Kill!" and rushed upon the enemy with such fury that the retreating Cherokee rallied and renewed the battle with so great courage as to gain a complete victory.
Myth 111 · The Mounds and the Constant Fire: The Old Sacred Things
The priest
The priest then conjured all these with disease, so that, if ever an enemy invaded the country, even though he should burn and destroy the town and the townhouse, he would never live to return home.
Myth 112 · The Ignorant Housekeeper · One day
the old man (Myth 112) his son (Myth 112)
One day he said to the young man, "We need a cook here, so you would better get married."
Myth 112 · The Ignorant Housekeeper
the old man (Myth 112) his son (Myth 112) the young woman (Myth 112)
So the young man got a wife and brought her home.
Myth 112 · The Ignorant Housekeeper
the old man (Myth 112) his son (Myth 112) the young woman (Myth 112)
Then the old man said, "You think about marrying and you don't know how to cook," and he sent her away.
Myth 113 · The Man in the Stump · one day
a man
The man slipped and fell down upon the cubs
Myth 113 · The Man in the Stump
a man the old bear
The man caught hold of her by the hind legs and the old bear was so frightened that she at once climbed out again, dragging the man, who thus got out of the stump
Myth 113 · The Man in the Stump
the old bear
when the bear ran away.
Myth 114 · Two Lazy Hunters
another lazy fellow (Myth 114) the pretty girl (Myth 114)
There was another lazy fellow who courted a pretty girl, but she would have nothing to do with him, telling him that her husband must be a good hunter or she would remain single all her life.
Myth 114 · Two Lazy Hunters · 📍 [[the woods]] · One morning
another lazy fellow (Myth 114)
One morning he went into the woods, and by a lucky accident managed to kill a deer. Lifting it upon his back, he carried it into the settlement, passing right by the door of the house where the girl and her mother lived. As soon as he was out of sight of the house he went by a roundabout course into the woods again and waited until evening, when he appeared with the deer on his shoulder and came down the trail past the girl's house as he had in the morning. He did this the next day, and the next
Myth 114 · Two Lazy Hunters
the girl's mother (Myth 114) the young man's mother (Myth 114)
So her mother--the old women are usually the matchmakers--got ready and went to the young man's mother to talk it over. When she arrived and the greetings were done she said, "Your son must be a good hunter." "No," replied the old woman, "he seldom kills anything." "But he has been killing a great many deer lately." "I haven't seen any," said his mother. "Why, he has been carrying deer past our house twice a day for the last three days." "I don't know what he did with them," said the young man's mother; "he never brought them here."
Myth 114 · Two Lazy Hunters · Then
the girl's mother (Myth 114) her husband (Myth 114)
Then the girl's mother was sure there was something wrong, so she went home and told her husband, who followed up the young man's trail into the woods until it brought him to where the body of the deer was hidden, now so far decayed that it had to be thrown away.
Myth 115 · The Two Old Men
Thought the second old man, "He means me"; so he got very angry and struck the first old man, and then they fought until each killed the other.
Myth 116 · The Star Feathers · A long time ago
a warrior of roving disposition
by trading some valuable Indian possession of his own he managed to buy a few of them, which he took with him to the mountains and hid, until he was ready to use them, in an old beaver lodge under the river bank.
Myth 116 · The Star Feathers · At the next dance
a warrior of roving disposition
At the next dance he wore the new headdress, and asserted that he had been up to the sky and that these were star feathers.
Myth 116 · The Star Feathers
a warrior of roving disposition
He became a great prophet, and used to keep himself hidden all day in the beaver hole, and whenever there was a night gathering for a dance or a council he would suddenly appear among them wearing his feather headdress and give the people a new message from the sky.
Myth 116 · The Star Feathers
another Cherokee
On his return he quietly told some of his friends, and they decided to investigate.
Myth 116 · The Star Feathers · the next night dance
another Cherokee
When the next night dance came around the prophet was on hand as usual with a new message fresh from the stars. The people listened reverently, and promised to do all that he commanded. Then he left them, saying that he must return at once to the sky, but as he went out from the circle the spies followed him in the darkness, and saw him go down to the river and dive under the water.
Myth 116 · The Star Feathers · The next morning
One man the prophet
The next morning a party went to the spot and discovered the beaver lodge under the bank. One man dived and came up inside, and there he found the prophet sitting with the peacock feathers by his side.
Myth 117 · The Mother Bear's Song · 📍 [[a cave]] · one day
a mother bear (Myth 117) her cub (Myth 117)
it was a mother bear singing to her cubs and telling them what to do when the hunters came after them.
Myth 117 · The Mother Bear's Song · 📍 [[a cave under the bushes]] · one day
a mother bear (Myth 117) her cub (Myth 117)
inside was a mother bear rocking her cub in her paws and singing to it this baby song
Myth 120 · The Raven Mocker · 📍 [[the âsi]] · Very soon
the old man (Myth 120) the old woman (Myth 120) the young man (Myth 120)
Very soon he heard a raven cry outside, and in a little while afterwards the old man came into the âsi and sat down by the fire without noticing the young man, who kept still in the dark corner. Soon there was another raven cry outside, and the old man said to himself, "Now my wife is coming," and sure enough in a little while the old woman came in and sat down by her husband.
Myth 120 · The Raven Mocker · 📍 [[the âsi]]
the old man (Myth 120) the old woman (Myth 120) the young man (Myth 120)
Said the old man to his wife, "Well, what luck did you have?" "None," said the old woman, "there were too many doctors watching. What luck did you have?" "I got what I went for," said the old man, "there is no reason to fail, but you never have luck. Take this and cook it and let's have something to eat."
Myth 120 · The Raven Mocker · 📍 [[the âsi]]
the old man (Myth 120) the young man (Myth 120)
After breakfast the young man started on again, but when he had gone a little way the old man ran after him with a fine piece of beadwork and gave it to him, saying, "Take this, and don't tell anybody what you heard last night, because my wife and I are always quarreling that way."
Myth 120 · The Raven Mocker
The young man took the piece, but when he came to the first creek he threw it into the water and then went on to the settlement. There he told the whole story
Myth 120 · The Raven Mocker · 📍 [[the house]] · seven days after the first night
the young man (Myth 120) the old man (Myth 120) the old woman (Myth 120)
a party of warriors started back with him to kill the Raven Mockers. When they reached the place it was seven days after the first night. They found the old man and his wife lying dead in the house, so they set fire to it and burned it and the witches together.
Myth 122 · Local Legends of North Carolina · Part 1 · 📍 [[Buffalo creek, West]] · formerly
a buffalo
from a tradition that a buffalo formerly lived under the water at its mouth.
Myth 122 · Local Legends of North Carolina · Part 1 · 📍 [[Cheowa Maximum]] · formerly
a monster hornet
from a monster hornet, which, according to tradition, formerly had its nest there, and could be seen flying about the tree tops or sunning itself on the bald spots, and which was so fierce that it drove away every one who came near the mountain.
Myth 122 · Local Legends of North Carolina · Part 1 · 📍 [[Cheowa Maximum]] · It finally
a monster hornet
It finally disappeared.
Myth 122 · Local Legends of North Carolina · Part 1 · 📍 [[Da'nawa-(a) Sa'tsûñyi]]
a hostile war party from the North a man
A hostile war party from the North, probably Shawano or Iroquois, after having killed a man on Cheowa, was pursued and crossed the river at this place.
Myth 122 · Local Legends of North Carolina · Part 1 · 📍 [[Datle'yasta'i]] · once
Two large uktenas
Two large uktenas, twined about each other as though in combat, were once seen to lift themselves from a deep hole in the river there and fall back into the water.
Myth 122 · Local Legends of North Carolina · Part 1 · 📍 [[Dida'skasti'yi]] · before the Removal
rival teams from Qualla and Valleytown
A ball game once arranged to take place there, before the Removal, between rival teams from Qualla and Valleytown, was abandoned on account of the mutual fear of the two parties.
Myth 122 · Local Legends of North Carolina · Part 2 · 📍 [[Gakati'yi]] · In one of their old wars
some prisoners
In one of their old wars the Cherokee generously released some prisoners there.
Myth 122 · Local Legends of North Carolina · Part 2 · 📍 [[Kâl-Detsi'yûñyi]] · In the old time
two Cherokee
In the old time two Cherokee were killed here by the enemy
Myth 122 · Local Legends of North Carolina · Part 3 · 📍 [[Skwan'-digû`gûñ'yi]]
one of them
a party of Spaniards advancing into the mountains was attacked here by the Cherokee, who threw one of them (dead?) into the stream.
Myth 122 · Local Legends of North Carolina · Part 3 · 📍 [[Soco gap]]
the one
they ambushed here, just below the gap, on the Haywood side, a large party of invading Shawano, and killed all but one, whose ears they cut off, after which, according to a common custom, they released him to carry the news back to his people.
Myth 122 · Local Legends of North Carolina · Part 3 · 📍 [[Tsi'skwunsdi'-adsisti'yi]] · in the old fighting days
a man
a man who was killed here by a hostile war party in the old fighting days.
Myth 122 · Local Legends of North Carolina · Part 3 · 📍 [[Tsu'dinûñti'yi]]
a Cherokee
a Cherokee pursued by the enemy threw away his equipment there.
Myth 122 · Local Legends of North Carolina · Part 3 · 📍 [[Tsukilûñnûñ'yi]] · once
a mysterious being
A mysterious being, having the form of a giant, with head blazing like the sun, was once seen to fly through the air, alight at this place, and stand for some time looking out over the landscape. It then flew away, and when the people came afterward to look, they found the herbage burned from the ground where it had stood.
Myth 122 · Local Legends of North Carolina · Part 3 · 📍 [[Tsunda`nilti'yi]] · once
a hunter
Here a hunter once killed a deer, which the others of the party demanded in payment of a debt due them.
Myth 122 · Local Legends of North Carolina · Part 4 · 📍 [[Tusquittee bald]] · in a very dry season
two water-dogs
Their pond had dried up and they were on the way over to Nantahala river.
Myth 122 · Local Legends of North Carolina · Part 4 · 📍 [[Ukte'na-tsuganûñ'tatsûñ'yi]]
an uktena
There is a tradition that an uktena, trying to make his way upstream, became fastened here
Myth 122 · Local Legends of North Carolina · Part 4 · 📍 [[Untlasgâsti'yi]]
every animal
According to hunting tradition, every animal on arriving at this spot was accustomed to scratch the ground like a turkey.
Myth 122 · Local Legends of North Carolina · Part 4 · 📍 [[Vengeance creek]] · in the Revolution
the trader
The Cherokee call the district Gansa`ti'yi, "Robbing place," from their having robbed a trader there in the Revolution.
Myth 122 · Local Legends of North Carolina · Part 4 · 📍 [[Webster]]
the conjurer
According to tradition, a war party of Shawano, coming from the direction of Pigeon river, halted here to "make medicine" against the Cherokee, but while thus engaged were surprised by the latter, who came up from behind and killed several, including the conjurer.
Myth 122 · Local Legends of North Carolina · Part 4 · 📍 [[Yawâ'i]] · formerly
a mysterious personage
The legend is that a mysterious personage, apparently a human being, formerly haunted a round knob near there, and was sometimes seen walking about the top of the knob and crying, Yawa'! Yawa'!
Myth 124 · Local Legends of Tennessee · 📍 [[Lenoir]] · On one occasion
a man (Myth 124) one of his children (Myth 124)
On one occasion a man crossing the river at this point saw the snake in the water and soon afterward lost one of his children.
Myth 125 · Local Legends of Georgia · Part 1 · finally
who finally becomes the head chief of the Cherokee and succeeds in making perpetual peace between the two tribes
Myth 125 · Local Legends of Georgia · Part 1
Nacoochee a chieftain of a hostile tribe (Myth 125)
Nacoochee, "The Evening Star," was a beautiful Indian princess, who unfortunately fell in love with a chieftain of a hostile tribe and was killed, together with her lover, while fleeing from the vengeance of an angry father
Myth 125 · Local Legends of Georgia · Part 2 · 📍 [[Tallulah]] · Many generations ago
several famous hunters
Many generations ago it so happened that several famous hunters, who had wandered from the West toward what is now the Savannah river, in search of game, never returned to their camping grounds.
Myth 125 · Local Legends of Georgia · Part 3 · before the floods came
the Great Spirit one family
the Great Spirit before the floods came commanded them to embark in a big canoe
Myth 125 · Local Legends of Georgia · Part 3 · 📍 [[this spot]] · after long sailing
a bevy of swans
which after long sailing was drawn to this spot by a bevy of swans
Myth 125 · Local Legends of Georgia · Part 3 · 📍 [[this spot]]
the whole troop of animals
and here the whole troop of animals was disembarked