Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney

the most important of the Cherokee traditions, for the reason that it deals with the mythic monster, the Uktena, and explains the origin of the great talisman, the Ulûñsû'ti. As here given it was obtained from Swimmer (east) with additions and variants from Wafford (west) and others. It is recorded by Ten Kate as obtained by him in the Territory (Legends of the Cherokees, in Journal of American Folk-Lore, January, 1889), and is mentioned in connection with the Ulûñsû'ti, by Adair, in 1775, and by Timberlake as early as 1762 (see notes to number 50, "The Uktena and the Ulûñsû'ti"). One variant makes the Ulûñsû'ti a scale from the seventh ring of the serpent. The Shawano, who at one time occupied the Cumberland region of Tennessee immediately adjoining the Cherokee, were regarded as wizards by all the southern tribes. Brinton says: "Among the Algonkins the Shawnee tribe did more than all others combined to introduce and carry about religious legends and ceremonies. From the earliest times they seem to have had peculiar aptitude for the ecstacies, deceits, and fancies that make up the spiritual life of their associates. Their constantly roving life brought them in contact with the myths of many nations, and it is extremely probable that they first brought the tale of the horned serpent from the Creeks and Cherokees" (Myths of the New World, p. 137). Localities--Utawagûn'ta mountain, Walâsi'yi gap, Duniskwa`lgûñ'yi gap and Atagâ'hi (mythic) lake, are all points in the Great Smoky range, which forms the dividing line between North Carolina and Tennessee. Tlanusi'yi is the native name for the site of Murphy, at the junction of Hiwassee and Valley rivers, North Carolina. Gahû'ti is Cohutta mountain in Murray county, Georgia. According to Wafford there are on the sides of this mountain several stone inclosures which were built by Âgan-uni'tsi for shelter places before attacking the Uktena (see also Glossary).