Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney
1808. In 1825 they ceded all their claims in Missouri and Arkansas,
together with considerable territory in what is now Kansas. They
have decreased terribly from war and dissipation, and are now, to
the number of about 1,780, gathered upon a reservation in Oklahoma
just west of the Cherokee and south of the Kansas line.
Chapters
- 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