Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney

Swimmer, is of the same order as the legends of Tsul`kalû', Kana'sta, etc. The people whom the hunter met inside the enchanted mountain are evidently the same described in the last-named story (number 82), with the guests from the lost settlement. The name Tsuwe'nahi can not be translated, but may possibly have, a connection with uwe'nahi, "rich." Kanu'ga and Tsuwa`tel'da--See notes under number 81, "Tsul`kalû'," and number 82, "Kana'sta." Parched corn--This was the standard provision of the warrior when on the march among all the tribes east of the Mississippi and probably among all the corn-growing tribes of America. It is the pinole of the Tarumari and other Mexican tribes. The Cherokee call it gahawi'sita. Hawkins thus describes it as seen with his Cherokee guides in 1796: "They are small eaters, use no salt and but little bread. They carry their parched corn meal, wissactaw, and mix a handful in a pint of water, which they drink. Although they had plenty of corn and fowls, they made no other provision than a small bag of this for the path. I have plenty of provisions and give them some at every meal. I have several times drank of the wissactaw, and am fond of it with the addition of some sugar. To make of the best quality, I am told the corn should first be boiled, then parched in hot ashes, sifted, powdered, and made into flour." [547] The seat was a turtle--This incident also occurs in number 84, "The Man who Married the Thunder's Sister." The species meant is the saligu'gi or common water turtle. Like dogs' paws--No reason is given for this peculiarity, which is nowhere else mentioned as a characteristic of the mountain spirits. Old tobacco--Tsâl-agayûñ'li, "ancient tobacco," the Nicotiana rustica, sacred among all the eastern tribes. See number 6, "How they Brought back the Tobacco," and number 126, "Plant Lore." Thorns of honey locust--This incident occurs also in number 63, "Ûñtsaiyi', The Gambler."