Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney

30. Why the Mole lives underground (p. 277): This story, from John Ax,

not only accounts for the Mole's underground habit, but illustrates a common Cherokee witchcraft belief, which has parallels all over the world.

← Previous Back to Home Next →

Chapter 1 Ch.1
13. The Great Yellow-jacket: Origin of fish and Ch.2
14. The Deluge 261 Ch.3
32. Origin of the Groundhog dance: The Groundhog's Ch.4
34. The Wolf's revenge: The Wolf and the Dog 280 Ch.5
48. The Hunter and the Buzzard 294 Ch.6
62. The Katydid's warning 311 Ch.7
87. The water cannibals 349 Ch.8
111. The mounds and the constant fire: The old Ch.9
126. Plant lore 420 Ch.10
2. Ancient Iroquois wampum belts 354 Ch.11
1. Be it known this day, That the various clans or tribes which Ch.12
2. The aforesaid clans or tribes have also agreed that if, in Ch.13
3. If a man have a horse stolen, and overtake the thief, and should Ch.14
1813. Jackson commanded in person with two thousand infantry and Ch.15
1817. They viewed with jealous and aching hearts all attempts to drive Ch.16
1817. [259] Ch.17
1836. [315] Ch.18
770. [382] These immigrants settled chiefly along the Verdigris, in the Ch.19
1840. He asserted that it was a translation of a manuscript in the Ch.20
1525. As these voyages were not followed up by permanent occupation Ch.21
1750. Ancient mining indications are also reported from Kings mountain, Ch.22
1779. Soon after in the same year he led a preliminary exploration Ch.23
episode); author's personal information. Ch.24
1776. Important treaties were made here with the Cherokee in 1785, Ch.25
1859. Having removed to Vermont with his father while still a child, Ch.26
introduction into the Nation of schoolmasters, blacksmiths, mechanics, Ch.27
1. HOW THE WORLD WAS MADE Ch.28
2. THE FIRST FIRE Ch.29
3. KANA'TI AND SELU: THE ORIGIN OF GAME AND CORN Ch.30
4. ORIGIN OF DISEASE AND MEDICINE Ch.31
5. THE DAUGHTER OF THE SUN Ch.32
6. HOW THEY BROUGHT BACK THE TOBACCO Ch.33
7. THE JOURNEY TO THE SUNRISE Ch.34
8. THE MOON AND THE THUNDERS. Ch.35
9. WHAT THE STARS ARE LIKE Ch.36
10. ORIGIN OF THE PLEIADES AND THE PINE Ch.37
11. THE MILKY WAY Ch.38
12. ORIGIN OF STRAWBERRIES Ch.39
13. THE GREAT YELLOW-JACKET: ORIGIN OF FISH AND FROGS Ch.40
14. THE DELUGE Ch.41
15. THE FOURFOOTED TRIBES Ch.42
16. THE RABBIT GOES DUCK HUNTING Ch.43
17. HOW THE RABBIT STOLE THE OTTER'S COAT Ch.44
18. WHY THE POSSUM'S TAIL IS BARE Ch.45
19. HOW THE WILDCAT CAUGHT THE GOBBLER Ch.46
20. HOW THE TERRAPIN BEAT THE RABBIT Ch.47
21. THE RABBIT AND THE TAR WOLF Ch.48
22. THE RABBIT AND THE POSSUM AFTER A WIFE Ch.49
23. THE RABBIT DINES THE BEAR Ch.50
24. THE RABBIT ESCAPES FROM THE WOLVES Ch.51
25. FLINT VISITS THE RABBIT Ch.52
26. HOW THE DEER GOT HIS HORNS Ch.53
27. WHY THE DEER'S TEETH ARE BLUNT Ch.54
28. WHAT BECAME OF THE RABBIT Ch.55
29. WHY THE MINK SMELLS Ch.56
30. WHY THE MOLE LIVES UNDERGROUND Ch.57
31. THE TERRAPIN'S ESCAPE FROM THE WOLVES Ch.58
32. ORIGIN OF THE GROUNDHOG DANCE: THE GROUNDHOG'S HEAD Ch.59
33. THE MIGRATION OF THE ANIMALS Ch.60
34. THE WOLF'S REVENGE--THE WOLF AND THE DOG Ch.61
35. THE BIRD TRIBES Ch.62
36. THE BALL GAME OF THE BIRDS AND ANIMALS Ch.63
37. HOW THE TURKEY GOT HIS BEARD Ch.64
38. WHY THE TURKEY GOBBLES Ch.65
39. HOW THE KINGFISHER GOT HIS BILL Ch.66
40. HOW THE PARTRIDGE GOT HIS WHISTLE Ch.67
41. HOW THE REDBIRD GOT HIS COLOR Ch.68
42. THE PHEASANT BEATING CORN; ORIGIN OF THE PHEASANT DANCE Ch.69
43. THE RACE BETWEEN THE CRANE AND THE HUMMINGBIRD Ch.70
44. THE OWL GETS MARRIED Ch.71
45. THE HUHU GETS MARRIED Ch.72
46. WHY THE BUZZARD'S HEAD IS BARE Ch.73
47. THE EAGLE'S REVENGE Ch.74
48. THE HUNTER AND THE BUZZARD Ch.75
49. THE SNAKE TRIBE Ch.76
50. THE UKTENA AND THE ULÛÑSÛ'TI Ch.77
51. ÂGAN-UNI'TSI'S SEARCH FOR THE UKTENA Ch.78
52. THE RED MAN AND THE UKTENA Ch.79
53. THE HUNTER AND THE UKSU'HI Ch.80
54. THE USTÛ'TLI Ch.81
55. THE UW'TSÛÑ'TA Ch.82
56. THE SNAKE BOY Ch.83
57. THE SNAKE MAN Ch.84
58. THE RATTLESNAKE'S VENGEANCE Ch.85
59. THE SMALLER REPTILES--FISHES AND INSECTS Ch.86
60. WHY THE BULLFROG'S HEAD IS STRIPED Ch.87
61. THE BULLFROG LOVER Ch.88
62. THE KATYDID'S WARNING Ch.89
63. ÛÑTSAIYI', THE GAMBLER Ch.90
64. THE NEST OF THE TLA'NUWA Ch.91
65. THE HUNTER AND THE TLA'NUWA Ch.92
66. U`TLÛÑ'TA, THE SPEAR-FINGER Ch.93
67. NÛÑ'YUNU'WI, THE STONE MAN Ch.94
68. THE HUNTER IN THE DAKWA' Ch.95
69. ATAGÂ'HI, THE ENCHANTED LAKE Ch.96
70. THE BRIDE FROM THE SOUTH Ch.97
71. THE ICE MAN Ch.98
72. THE HUNTER AND SELU Ch.99
73. THE UNDERGROUND PANTHERS Ch.100
74. THE TSUNDIGE'WI Ch.101
75. ORIGIN OF THE BEAR: THE BEAR SONGS Ch.102
76. THE BEAR MAN Ch.103
77. THE GREAT LEECH OF TLANUSI'YI Ch.104
78. THE NÛÑNE'HI AND OTHER SPIRIT FOLK Ch.105
79. THE REMOVED TOWNHOUSES Ch.106
80. THE SPIRIT DEFENDERS OF NIKWASI' Ch.107
81. TSUL`KALÛ', THE SLANT-EYED GIANT Ch.108
82. KANA'STA, THE LOST SETTLEMENT Ch.109
83. TSUWE'NAHI: A LEGEND OF PILOT KNOB Ch.110
84. THE MAN WHO MARRIED THE THUNDER'S SISTER Ch.111
85. THE HAUNTED WHIRLPOOL Ch.112
86. YAHULA Ch.113
87. THE WATER CANNIBALS Ch.114
88. FIRST CONTACT WITH WHITES Ch.115
89. THE IROQUOIS WARS Ch.116
90. HIADEONI, THE SENECA Ch.117
91. THE TWO MOHAWKS Ch.118
92. ESCAPE OF THE SENECA BOYS Ch.119
93. THE UNSEEN HELPERS Ch.120
94. HATCINOÑDOÑ'S ESCAPE FROM THE CHEROKEE Ch.121
95. HEMP-CARRIER Ch.122
96. THE SENECA PEACEMAKERS Ch.123
97. ORIGIN OF THE YONTOÑWISAS DANCE Ch.124
98. GA'NA'S ADVENTURES AMONG THE CHEROKEE Ch.125
99. THE SHAWANO WARS Ch.126
100. THE RAID ON TIKWALI'TSI Ch.127
101. THE LAST SHAWANO INVASION Ch.128
102. THE FALSE WARRIORS OF CHILHOWEE Ch.129
103. COWEE TOWN Ch.130
104. THE EASTERN TRIBES Ch.131
105. THE SOUTHERN AND WESTERN TRIBES Ch.132
1819. Still another may have existed at one time on Tuskegee creek, Ch.133
106. THE GIANTS FROM THE WEST Ch.134
107. THE LOST CHEROKEE Ch.135
108. THE MASSACRE OF THE ANI'-KUTA'NI Ch.136
109. THE WAR MEDICINE Ch.137
110. INCIDENTS OF PERSONAL HEROISM Ch.138
111. THE MOUNDS AND THE CONSTANT FIRE: THE OLD SACRED THINGS Ch.139
112. THE IGNORANT HOUSEKEEPER Ch.140
113. THE MAN IN THE STUMP Ch.141
114. TWO LAZY HUNTERS Ch.142
115. THE TWO OLD MEN Ch.143
116. THE STAR FEATHERS Ch.144
117. THE MOTHER BEAR'S SONG Ch.145
118. BABY SONG, TO PLEASE THE CHILDREN Ch.146
119. WHEN BABIES ARE BORN: THE WREN AND THE CRICKET Ch.147
120. THE RAVEN MOCKER Ch.148
121. HERBERT'S SPRING Ch.149
122. LOCAL LEGENDS OF NORTH CAROLINA Ch.150
123. LOCAL LEGENDS OF SOUTH CAROLINA Ch.151
124. LOCAL LEGENDS OF TENNESSEE Ch.152
1848. So far as is known there was no Cherokee settlement at the place, Ch.153
125. LOCAL LEGENDS OF GEORGIA Ch.154
1775. There is some reason for believing that it refers to a former Ch.155
126. PLANT LORE Ch.156
1. How the world was made (p. 239): From decay of the old tradition Ch.157
2. The first fire (p. 240): This myth was obtained from Swimmer Ch.158
3. Kana'ti and Selu: Origin of corn and game (p. 242): This story Ch.159
4. Origin of disease and medicine (p. 250): This myth was obtained Ch.160
5. The Daughter of the Sun: Origin of death (p. 252): This is one Ch.161
6. How they brought back the tobacco (p. 254): The first version of Ch.162
7. The journey to the sunrise (p. 255): This story, obtained Ch.163
8. The Moon and the Thunders (p. 256): The story of the sun and the Ch.164
9. What the stars are like (p. 257): This story, told by Swimmer, Ch.165
10. Origin of the Pleiades and the pine (p. 258): This myth is well Ch.166
11. The Milky Way (p. 259): This story, in slightly different forms, Ch.167
12. Origin of strawberries (p. 259): This myth, as here given, was Ch.168
13. The Great Yellow-jacket: Origin of fish and frogs (p. 260): This Ch.169
14. The Deluge (p. 261): This story is given by Schoolcraft in his Ch.170
15. The four-footed tribes (p. 261): No essential difference--"I have Ch.171
16. The Rabbit goes duck hunting (p. 266): This story was heard from Ch.172
17. How the Rabbit stole the Otter's coat (p. 267): This story is well Ch.173
18. Why the Possum's tail is bare (p. 269): This story was heard from Ch.174
19. How the Wildcat caught the Gobbler (p. 269): This story was heard Ch.175
20. How the Terrapin beat the Rabbit (p. 270): This story was Ch.176
21. The Rabbit and the tar wolf (p. 271): This story was obtained in Ch.177
22. The Rabbit and the Possum after a wife (p. 273): This specimen Ch.178
23. The Rabbit dines the Bear (p. 273): This favorite story with Ch.179
24. The Rabbit escapes from the wolves (p. 274): This story was Ch.180
25. Flint visits the Rabbit (p. 274): This story was told in slightly Ch.181
26. How the Deer got his horns (p. 275): This story was heard from Ch.182
27. Why the Deer's teeth are blunt (p. 276): This story follows the Ch.183
28. What became of the Rabbit (p. 277): This version was obtained Ch.184
30. Why the Mole lives underground (p. 277): This story, from John Ax, Ch.185
31. The Terrapin's escape from the Wolves (p. 278): This story, Ch.186
32. Origin of the Groundhog dance (p. 279): This story is from Ch.187
33. The migration of the animals (p. 280): This little story is given Ch.188
34. The Wolf's revenge: The Wolf and the Dog (p. 280): These short Ch.189
35. The bird tribes (p. 280): The eagle killer--Of the Southern Ch.190
36. The ball game of the birds and animals (p. 286): This is one Ch.191
37. How the Turkey got his beard (p. 287): This story is well known Ch.192
38. Why the Turkey gobbles (p. 288): This story was first heard Ch.193
39. How the Kingfisher got his bill (p. 288): The first version is Ch.194
40. How the Partridge got his whistle (p. 289): This little story is Ch.195
41. How the Redbird got his color (p. 289): This short story was Ch.196
42. The Pheasant beating corn: The Pheasant dance (p. 290): The first Ch.197
43. The race between the Crane and the Hummingbird (p. 290): This story Ch.198
44. The Owl gets married (p. 291): Told by Swimmer. The three owls Ch.199
45. The Huhu gets married (p. 292): This story was heard at different Ch.200
46. Why the Buzzard's head is bare (p. 293): This story was told Ch.201
47. The Eagle's revenge (p. 293): This story, told by John Ax, Ch.202
48. The Hunter and the Buzzard (p. 294): Told by Swimmer. The custom Ch.203
49. The snake tribe (p. 294): Rattlesnake--The custom of asking Ch.204
50. The Uktena and the Ûlûñsû'ti (p. 297): The belief in the great Ch.205
51. Âgan-uni'tsi's search for the Uktena (p. 248): This is one of Ch.206
52. The Red Man and the Uktena (p. 300): This story was obtained from Ch.207
53. The Hunter and the Uksu'hi (p. 301): This story was told by Swimmer Ch.208
54. The Ustû'tli (p. 302): This story was told by Swimmer and John Ax Ch.209
55. The Uw`tsûñ'ta (p. 303): This story was obtained from James Ch.210
56. The Snake Boy (p. 304): This myth was told by Swimmer. Ch.211
57. The Snake Man (p. 304): This myth, obtained from Chief Smith, Ch.212
58. The Rattlesnake's vengeance (p. 305): This story, told by Swimmer, Ch.213
59. The smaller reptiles, fishes, and insects (p. 306): Ch.214
60. Why the Bullfrog's head is striped (p. 310): The first version is Ch.215
61. The Bullfrog lover (p. 310): The first amusing little tale was Ch.216
63. Ûñtsaiyi', the Gambler (p. 311): This story was obtained from Ch.217
64. The nest of the Tla'nuwa (p. 315): This story was obtained first Ch.218
65. The hunter and the Tla'nuwa (p. 316): This myth was told by Ch.219
66. U`tlûñ'ta, the Spear-finger (p. 316): This is one of the most Ch.220
67. Nûñyunu'wi, the Stone Man (p. 319): This myth, although obtained Ch.221
68. The hunter in the Dakwa'--This story was told by Swimmer and Ch.222
69. Atagâ'hi, the enchanted lake (p. 321): This story was heard Ch.223
70. The bride from the south (p. 322): This unique allegory was heard Ch.224
71. The Ice Man (p. 322): This story, told by Swimmer, may be a veiled Ch.225
72. The Hunter and Selu (p. 323): The explanation of this story, Ch.226
73. The Underground Panthers (p. 324): This story was told by John Ch.227
74. The Tsundige'wi (p. 325): This curious story was told by Swimmer Ch.228
75. Origin of the Bear (p. 325): This story was told by Swimmer, Ch.229
76. The Bear Man (p. 327): This story was obtained first from Ch.230
77. The Great Leech of Tlanusi'yi (p. 329): This legend was heard Ch.231
78. The Nûñne'hi and other spirit folk (p. 330): The belief in fairies Ch.232
79. The removed townhouses (p. 335): The first of these stories Ch.233
80. The spirit defenders of Nikwasi' (p. 336): This story was obtained Ch.234
81. Tsul`kalû', the slant-eyed giant (p. 337): The story of Tsul`kalû' Ch.235
82. Kana'sta, the lost settlement (p. 341): This story, obtained Ch.236
83. Tsuwe'nahi, a legend of Pilot knob (p. 343): This story, from Ch.237
84. The man who married the Thunder's sister (p. 345): This story was Ch.238
85. The haunted whirlpool (p. 347): This legend was related by an Ch.239
86. Yahula (p. 347): This fine myth was obtained in the Territory Ch.240
87. The water cannibals (p. 349): This story was obtained from Swimmer Ch.241
88. First contact with whites (p. 350): The story of the jug of Ch.242
89. The Iroquois wars (p. 351): The Iroquois league--The Iroquois Ch.243
90. Hiadeoni, the Seneca (p. 356): Of this story Schoolcraft says: Ch.244
92. Escape of the Seneca boys (p. 359): The manuscript notes from Ch.245
93. The Unseen Helpers (p. 359): The meaning of the Seneca name can Ch.246
94. Hatcinoñdoñ's escape from the Cherokee (p. 362): The Seneca name Ch.247
95. Hemp-carrier (p. 364): This story of the old wars was obtained Ch.248
96. The Seneca peacemakers (p. 365): This story was told to Schoolcraft Ch.249
97. Origin of the Yontoñwisas dance (p. 365): This is evidently the Ch.250
98. Ga'na's adventures among the Cherokee (p. 367): This story, Ch.251
99. The Shawano wars (p. 370): The chief authority as to the expulsion Ch.252
93. There are also a few scattered among other tribes. For detailed Ch.253
100. The raid on Tikwali'tsi (p. 374): Swimmer, from whom this story Ch.254
101. The last Shawano invasion (p. 374): This story also is from Ch.255
102. The false warriors of Chilhowee (p. 375): This story was given Ch.256
104. The eastern tribes (p. 378): Delaware--The Delawares derive Ch.257
105. The southern and western tribes (p. 382): The Creek Ch.258
1692. They probably joined the Creeks about the same time as their Ch.259
1845. In 1898 the citizen population of the Creek Nation numbered Ch.260
1808. In 1825 they ceded all their claims in Missouri and Arkansas, Ch.261
106. The Giants from the west (p. 391): This may be an exaggerated Ch.262
107. The lost Cherokee (p. 391): This tradition as here given is taken Ch.263
part 1, and The Last of Our Cannibals, in Harper's Magazine, August, Ch.264
108. The massacre of the Ani'-Kuta'ni (p. 392): Swimmer, Ta'gwadihi', Ch.265
109. The war medicine (p. 393): The first two paragraphs are from Ch.266
110. Incidents of personal heroism (p. 394): The incident of the Ch.267
111. The mounds and the constant fire: The old sacred things (p. 395): Ch.268
116. The star feathers (p. 399): This story was obtained from John Ch.269
117. The mother bear's song (p. 400): The first of these songs was Ch.270
118. Baby song, to please the children (p. 401): This song is well Ch.271
119. When babies are born: The wren and the cricket (p. 401): These Ch.272
120. The Raven Mocker (p. 401): The grewsome belief in the "Raven Ch.273
121. Herbert's spring (p. 403): The subject of this old trader's Ch.274
126. Plant lore (p. 420): For ceremonies, prayers, and precautions used Ch.275
381. The name is not connected with gi`li, dog. Ch.276
1810. See page 86. Ch.277
1795. See page 79. The literal Cherokee translation of "Long-hair" Ch.278
1730. Both the correct form and the meaning of the name are uncertain; Ch.279
4. Tahlequah, established as the capital of the Cherokee Nation, Ch.280
1. An ancient settlement on the upper part of Tallulah river, in Ch.281
2. another was on the north bank of Tennessee river, just below Ch.282
1830. See page 141. Ch.283
124. Before the establishment of the town the place was known to Ch.284
13. The word signifies "leader," "boss," or "principal one," and Ch.285
63. The common word is wude'ligûñ'yi, q. v., while the term in the Ch.286
1832. The treaty is not mentioned by the Tennessee historians. Ch.287
1880. Pickett says Jackson had "767 men, with 200 friendly Indians"; Ch.288
1834. The volume of Cherokee laws, compiled in the Cherokee language Ch.289
1823. From a contemporary reference in Rivers, South Carolina, page Ch.290