HISTORIC OCONEE COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA Subject: MYTHS OF THE CHEROKEES Version 1.0, 15-Dec-2002, H-17.txt **************************************************************** REPRODUCING NOTICE: ------------------- These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, or presentation by any other organization, or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Paul M Kankula - nn8nn Seneca, SC, USA Oconee County SC GenWeb Coordinator Oconee County SC GenWeb Homestead http://www.rootsweb.com/~scoconee/oconee.html Oconee County SC GenWeb Tombstone Project http://www.rootsweb.com/~scoconee/cemeteries.html http://www.rootsweb.com/~cemetery/southcarolina/oconee.html **************************************************************** DATAFILE INPUT . : Paul M. Kankula at kankula1@innova.net in Dec-2002 DATAFILE LAYOUT : Paul M. Kankula at kankula1@innova.net in Dec-2002 HISTORY WRITE-UP : Mary Cherry Doyle, Clemson, SC in Jan-1935 Dedicated To: Dr Edgar Clay Doyle FOREWORD In presenting these fragmentary facts that have come to my knowledge, it is my hope that they may prove helpful in preserv- ing the history of Oconee county for the youth of the land and all who are interested in the history of Oconee county for South Carolina. With knowledge there will follow a fuller appreciation of the great heritage that is ours. I wish to acknowledge a great debt of gratitude to Dr. J. Walter Daniel, an author- ity on Indians of the South. We are indebted to members of the Wizard of Tamassee Chapter S. C. D. A. R. and many other friends. MARY CHERRY DOYLE. January, 1935. MYTHS OF THE CHEROKEES HOW THE WORLD WAS MADE The Indians believed that the earth was an island in a sea of water, suspended by four cords from the four points of the compass, hanging down from the sky which was solid rock. When the world grows old the cords will break and let the earth sink into the ocean. The Indians fear this. The water beetles, the beavers grandchildren, dove down and brought up some mud which he spread out, and it grew rapidly until it became the island which we call the earth. At first it was flat. soft and wet. The animals were anxious to get down because they were so crowded, and they sent out different birds to see if it was dry yet, but they found no place to light and came back. They sent a buzzard, tell- ing him to make a place for them. He flew all over the earth near the ground and it was very soft. By the time he reached the Cherokee country he was very tired. His wings began to flop and to strike the earth, and wherever they struck there was a valley, but when they turned up it was a mountain. The animals called him back but the Cherokee country remains full of mountains to this day. When the earth was dry the animals came down, but it was dark. So they got the sun and put it on a track, but it was too near to them and too hot, so they raised it a hands' breadth still it was too hot, so they kept on raising it until it reached the sky. It goes along its path every day and re- turns to its resting place on the upper side every night. FIRE It happened in the beginning that there was no fire until the thunder sent out its lightning and the world was cold. The lightning had put some fire in a sycamore tree but it was on an island and the animals could not get to it, so they held a consultation and every animal that could fly or swim was advised to go after the fire. The raven went first because he was big and strong. He flew to the spot but was frightened. He flew back but his wings were scorched. The screech owl came next, and while he was looking down into the fire, a hot blast came up and nearly burned out his eyes. They are red to this day. The hoot owl was nearly blinded by the smoke, so no more birds would volunteer. Then the water spider said she would go. She swam to the spot and spun a long thread and made a little bowl of it on her back. In this she succeed- ed in bringing a small coal of fire, and we have had fire ever since. As compared with the myths of other tribes, the Chero- kee myths are clean. They are picturesque and have a wealth of detail, and rank high, and some of the wonder stories of Europe and India. Unless otherwise stated, every myth has been obtained from the Indians, and has been verified from several sources. Swimmer was the chief of their story tellers and from him almost all of the stories were obtained. He was train- ed to be a priest, a doctor, and a keeper of tradition. He had a happy descriptive style and this with a musical voice made him a pleasure to listen to even if you could not un- derstand every word. The Cherokees held the entire Allegheny region from the Blue Ridge on the east to the Cumberland mountains on the west, a territory of about 4000 square miles, now in- cluded in the states of Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. As the whites advanced their settlements were moved farther back, while the Cherokees belonging to the Iroquoin stock, their relation, having been suspected by Hale and Gallatine, it was definitely established by Hewitt in 1887. The eastern dialect which was spoken in all of the towns along the Keowee and Tugaloo, but this eastern Cherokee dialect is still spoken by many now living on Qualla, but it is more uncommon each year. The Western dialect is still spoken by the western tribes. Since the earliest discovery and settlements along the south Atlantic section, the Cherokees have been known as one of the larger and most notable of the tribes. They alone of the northern tribes developed a written language under Sequoiya system. They were important in English and Span- ish pioneering. Thy fought in the Revolution and with the Confederate Army. They helped to shape laws in relation to Indian affairs, (from the account of James Mooney.) THUNDERS The thunders were twin gods who were found in water- falls. They believed that th holy people were at war above the clouds. A similar idea prevailed among the Iroquois In- dians, and was let down to the earth when he wished to descend to the earth. The rainbow was the beautiful dress of the sun god. This is also the belief among the South sea Islanders. It was con- sidered bad luck to point the finger at the rainbow for fear that your finger would become withered or mishapen. STARS Swimmer told that the stars were birds, and when the stars fell they were like little birds just hatched out. The Indians believed that the lightning would not strike a black gum tree. The Indians payed veneration to the morning star and also to the 7 stars There were two hunters, the big game hunter lived in the north and the small game hunter lived in the south. One day the former found the small game hunter's wife grinding corn. He seized her and carried her far away to his home in the north. Her dog followed her across the sky, and the meal falling from his mouth as he ran, making the Milky Way. With the Kiowas and the Chyennes the Milky Way is the dusty track where the buffalo and horses ran across the sky. The Cherokees at Qualla are peaceable, law abiding and hospitable. They elect a chief for four years at Cherokee. Ball play and dances are still their chief amusements. Priests scratched the backs and breasts of ball players with a bone comb, then they must go and dip in water while they recited prayers. UKENA Long ago when the world was young the sun became angry with the people of the earth, he sent a disease to destroy them . The little men changed a man into a monster snake which they called Ukena, the keen eyed. Those who know say the Ukena is a great snake as large around as a tree trunk, with horns on its head and a bright blazing crest like a diamond on its forehead and scales glittering like sparks of fire. It has rings or spots of color along its whole length, and cannot be wounded except by shooting in the seventh spot from the head because there are its heart and life. The blazing diamond will make he who wins the great wonder worker of the tribe, but it is worth a man's life to attempt- it, for whoever sees it is so dazed by the bright light that he runs to the snake instead of trying to escape. Of all the warriors who have started out in search only Agamenitsi ever came back successful. He killed the snake. The great diamond is a large crystal, transparent, with a blood red streak running through it and is about the size of a cartridge bullet. The owners keep it hidden away in a secret place wrapped in a deer skin. A white man must never see it, and no one but the owner must venture near it for fear of sud- den death. Whoever owns the Ulensi-ti, as the diamond is called, is assured of success in hunting, love, rain making, and every other business. Its greatest use is in life pro- phecy. When it is consulted for this purpose the future is clearly seen mirrored in the crystal. The conjurer knows whether the sick man will get well, whether the warrior will return from battle, or whether the youth will live to be old. The snake was regarded as supernatural, having an intimate connection between the deer and the ginseng, so that an injury to one is an injury to all. The feeling towards snakes was a feeling of fear and reverence, especially the rattlesnake. The rattle snake has a bell, alluding to his rattle. For obvious reasons the rattler is regarded as the chief of the snake tribe, and is respected accordingly. Few Chero- kees will venture to kill a rattle snake unless absolutely necessary, and then he must ask pardon of the snakes ghost or his relative will send one of his number to bite him so that he will die. The only thing that the snake is afraid of is the rattle snake master. The oil is prized for rheuma- tism and sore joints. The copperhead, although feared on account of Ills poisonous bite, is hated. The water moccasin and the spread- ing adder are not especially regarded. With the exception of Priber there seemed to be no mention of Missionaries among the Cherokees until 1800. The first permanent mission was established by the Mora- vinians in 1783. In 1805 Gideon Blackburn established a mission which continued for several years until closed for lack of funds. Corn was indigenous to Central America, but cultivated over the greater part of the hemisphere during pre Colum- bus times. Priests still treasure legends and rituals of this people. A peculiarity of the Cherokees was a rolling "R" in which took the place of ''L" of their dialects. TERRAPIN AND THE RABBIT RACE The animals disputed about who had the finest coat. Some had long coats, some short and some had rings on their tails. So they decided to have a convention to decide the question. The ottor lived a good ways up the stream, and the rabbit met him and suggested that they rest for the night by the fire. The ottor did as he was old, and at the rabbit's suggestion took off his coat and hung it on a limb and was soon fast asleep. The rabbit made a paddle and threw some coals on the fire and told the ottor to run for the river where he has been ever since. The rabbit stole his fine coat and went to the convention, holding his paws in front of his face. The bear pulled his paws away, the rabbit ran, and the bear gave him a lick, and cut off nearly all of his tail, and that is why he has such a short tail. 0' POSSUM He once had a long and beautiful tail and was very proud of it. He talked so much about it that the rabbit be- came very jealous Now the cricket was said to be the best barber. Now as the animals were to have a great convention and dance that night, the rabbit told the cricket to let him comb out his beautiful tail, and the cricket gently gnawed off all the hair and wrapped it with a red string. The possum went to the dance, and getting to the center of the ring, began to sing a song about his beautiful tail and how fine the fur was, so he unbound the string. The animals began to laugh at his tail, it was bare. He rolled over and began to grin and has been grinning ever since. TERRAPIN AND RABBIT WERE TO HAVE A RACE The day for the race was appointed, a starting place agreed upon, and they were to run over 4 ridges. The rabbit was a very fast runner and the terrapin was known as a slow moving animal. The rabbit said he would let him go over one ridge while he would lie down and rest, now the terrapin went around to see his friends, and posted one at the end of each hill. Terrapins look so much alike that you cannot tell one from the other. They did as agreed. The rabbit started running and jumping, but each time he would see the terrapin on the hill above him. The rabbit was aw- fully tired but could see the terrapin on ahead of him. The terrapin was declared the winner. You see the terrapin was on the fourth ridge, so he could be there to answer questions. The terrapins kept quiet and never told how they helped out. GUNS INTRODUCED TO CHEROKEES ABOUT 1700 Why the turkey gobbles. The grouse used to have a fine voice and a good halloo in the ball play. All the animals used to play ball in those days and were as proud of a loud halloo as the ball players are today. The turkey did not have a good voice and asked the grouse to teach him. The grouse agreed to give him lessons but wanted some pay. The turkey agreed to give him some feathers to make him a collar. This is how the grouse got his collar of turkey feath- ers. They began the lessons and the turkey learned very fast. When the grouse thought it was time to try his voice, "Now", said the grouse "when I give the signal by tapping on this you must halloo as loud as you can." As he gave the signal by tapping on the log as the grouse always does, the turkey was so eager and excited that he could not do any- thing but gobble, and ever since then he gobbles. HOW THE PARTRIDGE GOT HIS WHISTLE In the old days the terrapin had a good whistle but the partridge had none. The terrapin was constantly bragging about his whistle to the other animals until the partridge got jealous, so one day when they met, the partridge asked leave to try it. The terrapin was afraid to risk it, expecting some trick, but the partridge said. "I will give it right back to you and you can stay with me while I practice". So the terrapin let him have it, so the partridge walked around, blowing it in fine fashion. "How does it sound with me? Oh, "very well", said the terrapin. Now how would you like to run ahead and whistle, but do not run so fast. Now this partridge gave one long whistle and flew to the top of a tree, leaving the poor terrapin on the ground. The poor terrapin never recovered his whistle and, when anyone came around, he shut himself up in his box. The pheasant dance is a part of the green corn dance. The drum is used and the dancers beat the ground with their feet as the pheasants do.