Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney

female dignitary among the Cherokee, described by Haywood under the title of the "Pretty Woman" as having authority to decide the fate of prisoners of war. Wafford once knew an old woman whose name was Da`na-gâ'sta, an abbreviated form for Da`nawa-gâsta'ya, "Sharp war," understood to mean "Sharp (i. e., Fierce) warrior." Several cases of women acting the part of warriors are on record among the Cherokee.