Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney

the whites as Ross' landing, from a store kept there by Lewis Ross, brother of the chief John Ross. Tsatu'gi (commonly written Chattooga or Chatuga)--a name occurring in two or more places in the old Cherokee country, but apparently of foreign origin (see page 382). Possible Cherokee derivations are from words signifying respectively "he drank by sips," from gatu'gia', "I sip," or "he has crossed the stream and come out upon the other side," from gatu'gi, "I have crossed" etc. An ancient settlement of this name was on Chattooga river, a head-stream of Savannah river, on the boundary between South Carolina and Georgia; another appears to have been on upper Tellico river, in Monroe county, Tennessee; another may have been on Chattooga river, a tributary of the Coosa, in northwestern Georgia. Tsâ'wa Gakski--Joe Smoker, from Tsâwa, "Joe," and gakski, "smoker," from ga'giskû, "I am smoking." The Cherokee name for Chief Joel B. Mayes, of the Cherokee Nation west. Tsawa'si--a Cherokee sprite. See number 78. tsa'weha--see tla'meha. tsay'kû'--see tlay'kû'. Tsek'sini'--the Cherokee form for the name of General Andrew Jackson. Tsesa'ni--Jessan, probably a derivative from Jesse; a masculine name upon the East Cherokee reservation. Tse'si-Ska'tsi--"Scotch Jesse"; Jesse Reid, present chief of the East Cherokee, so called because of mixed Scotch ancestry. tsetsani'li--"thy two elder brothers" (male speaking); my elder brother (male speaking), ûñgini'li. See note to number 63. Tsgâgûñ'yi--"Insect place," from tsgâya, insect, and yi, locative. A cave in the ridge eastward from Franklin, in Macon county, North Carolina. See number 13. tsgâya--insect, worm, etc. See page 308. Tsikama'gi--a name, commonly spelled Chickamauga, occurring in at least two places in the old Cherokee country, which has lost any meaning in Cherokee and appears to be of foreign origin. It is applied to a small creek at the head of Chattahoochee river, in White county, Georgia, and also to the district about the southern (not the northern) Chickamauga creek, coming into Tennessee river, a few miles above Chattanooga, in Hamilton county, Tennessee. In 1777 the more hostile portion of the Cherokee withdrew from the rest of the tribe and established here a large settlement, from which they removed about five years later to settle lower down the Tennessee in what were known as the Chickamauga towns or Five Lower towns. See page 54 and number 124. tsiki'--a word which renders emphatic that which it follows: as â'stû, "very good," âstû' tsiki, "best of all." See number 75. tsikiki'--the katydid; the name is an onomatope. tsi'kilili'--the Carolina chickadee (Parus carolinensis); the name is an onomatope. See number 35. Tsiksi'tsi (Tûksi'tsi in dialectic form; commonly written Tuckasegee)--1. a former Cherokee settlement about the junction of the two forks of Tuckasegee, above Webster, in Jackson county, North Carolina (not to be confounded with Tikwali'tsi, q. v.). 2. A former settlement on a branch of Brasstown creek of Hiwassee river, in Towns county, Georgia. The word has lost its meaning. Tsi'nawi--a Cherokee wheelwright, perhaps the first in the Nation to make a spinning wheel and loom. The name can not be analyzed. See page 214. tsine'û--I am picking it (something long) up; in the Lower and Middle dialects, tsinigi'û. tsinigi'û--see tsine'û. tsiska'gili--the large red crawfish; the ordinary crawfish is called tsistû'na. See number 59. tsi'skwa--bird. tsiskwa'gwa--robin, from tsi'skwa, bird. Tsiskwâ'hi--"Bird place," from tsi'skwa, bird, and hi, locative. Birdtown settlement on the East Cherokee reservation, in Swain county, North Carolina. tsiskwâ'ya--sparrow, literally "principal bird" (i. e., most widely distributed), from tsi'skwa, bird, and yâ, a suffix denoting principal or real. Tsilalu'hi--"Sweet-gum place," from tsila'lu', sweet-gum (Liquidambar), and hi, locative. A former settlement on a small branch of Brasstown creek of Hiwassee river, just within the line of Towns county, Georgia. The name is incorrectly rendered Gumlog (creek). Tsiskwunsdi'-adsisti'yi--"Where they killed Little-bird," from Tsiskw-unsdi', "Little-birds" (plural form). A place near the head of West Buffalo creek, southeast of Robbinsville, in Graham county, North Carolina. See number 122. Tsistetsi'yi--"Mouse place," from tsistetsi, mouse, and yi, locative; a former settlement on South Mouse creek, of Hiwassee river, in Bradley county, Tennessee. The present town of Cleveland, upon the same creek, is known to the Cherokee under the same name. tsistu--rabbit. tsistû'na--crawfish; the large horned beetle is also so called. The large red crawfish is called tsiska'gili. tsist-uni'gisti--"rabbit foods" (plural), from tsi'stu, rabbit, and uni'gisti, plural of agi'sti, food, from tsiyi'giû "I am eating" (soft food). The wild rose. Tsistu'yi--"Rabbit place," from tsistu, rabbit, and yi, locative. 1. Gregory bald, high peak of the Great Smoky range, eastward from Little Tennessee river, on the boundary between Swain county, North Carolina and Blount county, Tennessee. See number 75 and notes. 2. A former settlement on the north bank of Hiwassee river at the, entrance of Chestua creek, in Polk county, Tennessee. The name of Choastea creek of Tugaloo river, in Oconee county, South Carolina, is probably also a corruption from the same word. Tsiyâ'hi--"Otter place," from tsiyû, otter, and yi, locative; variously spelled Cheowa, Cheeowhee, Chewohe, Chewe, etc. 1. A former settlement on a branch of Keowee river, near the present Cheohee, Oconee county, South Carolina. 2. A former and still existing Cherokee settlement on Cheowa river, about Robbinsville, in Graham county, North Carolina. 3. A former settlement in Cades cove, on Cove creek, in Blount county, Tennessee. Tsi'yu-gûnsi'ni--"He is dragging a canoe," from tsi'yu, canoe (cf. tsi'yû, otter) and gûnsi'ni, "he is dragging it." "Dragging-canoe," a prominent leader of the hostile Cherokee in the Revolution. The name appears in documents as Cheucunsene and Kunnesee. See page 54. Tskil-e'gwa--"Big-witch," from atskili', or tskili', witch, owl, and e'gwa, big; an old man of the East Cherokee, who died in 1896. See page 179. Although translated Big-witch by the whites, the name is understood by the Indians to mean Big-owl (see number 35), having been originally applied to a white man living on the same clearing, noted for his large staring eyes. tskili' (contracted from atskili')--1. witch; 2. the dusky horned owl (Bubo virginianus saturatus). See number 35. TSOLUNGH--see tsalû. tskwâ'yi--the great white heron or American egret (Herodias egretta). Tsudâ'talesûñ'yi--"Where pieces fall off," i.e. where the banks are caving in; from adâtale'û, "it is falling off," ts, distance prefix, "there," and yi, locative. The Cherokee name for the present site of Memphis, Tennessee, overlooking the Mississippi, and formerly known as the Chickasaw bluff. Tsuda'ye`lûñ'yi--"Isolated place"; an isolated peak near the head of Cheowa river, northeast of Robbinsville, in Graham county, North Carolina. See number 79 and notes. The root of the word signifies detached, or isolated, whence Uda'ye`lûñ'yi, the Cherokee outlet, in the Indian Territory. Tsu'dinûñti'yi--"Throwing-down place"; a former settlement on lower Nantahala river, in Macon county, North Carolina. See number 122. Tsugidû`li ûlsgi'sti (from tsugidû`li, plural of ugidû`li, one of the long wing or tail feathers of a bird, and ûlsgi'sti or ûlsgi'ta, a dance)--the feather or eagle dance. See number 35. tsûñgili'si--plural of ûñgili'si, q.v. tsûñgini'si--plural of ûñgini'si, q.v. Tsukilûñnûñ'yi--"Where he alighted"; two bald spots on a mountain at the head of Little Snowbird creek, near Robbinsville, in Graham county, North Carolina. For tradition, see number 122. tsûñkina'tli--"my younger brothers" (male speaking). tsûñkita'--"my younger brothers" (female speaking). tsu`la--fox; cf. tsû`lû, kingfisher and tlutlu' or tsutsu', martin. The black fox is inâ'li. The Creek word for fox is chula. tsula'ski--alligator: the name is of uncertain etymology. Tsu`la'wi--see Tsû`lûñwe'i. Tsulâ'sinûñ'yi--"Footprint place." A place on Tuckasegee river, about a mile above Deep creek, in Swain county, North Carolina. See number 122. Tsul`kalû'--"Slanting-eyes," literally "He has them slanting" (or leaning up against something); the prefix ts makes it a plural form, and the name is understood to refer to the eyes, although the word eye (akta', plural dikta') is not a part of it. Cf. Ata'-gûl`kalû'. A mythic giant and ruler of the game. The name has been corrupted to Jutaculla and Tuli-cula. Jutaculla rock and Jutaculla old fields about the head of Tuckasegee river, in Jackson, North Carolina, take their name from him. See number 81 and notes. Tsule'hisanûñ'hi--"Resurrected One," from di'gwale'hisanûñ'hi, "I was resurrected," literally, "I was down and have risen." Tsa'lagi' Tsule'hisanuñhi, the Cherokee title of the newspaper known to the whites as the Cherokee Phoenix. The Cherokee title was devised by Worcester and Boudinot as suggesting the idea of the phoenix of classic fable. The Indian name of the recent "Cherokee Advocate" is Tsa'lagi Asdeli'ski. Tsul`kalû' tsunegûñ'yi--see Tsunegûñ'yi. tsulie'na--the nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis); the word signifies literally "deaf" (a plural form referring to the ear, gûle'), although no reason is given for such a name. tsû`lû--kingfisher. Cf. tsu`la. Tsû`lûñwe'i (abbreviated Tsû`lûñ'we or Tsûla'wi, possibly connected with tsû`lû, kingfisher)--Chilhowee creek, a north tributary of Little Tennessee river, in Blount county, Tennessee. Tsunda`nilti'yi--"Where they demanded the debt from him"; a place on Little Santeetla river, west of Robbinsville, in Graham county, North Carolina. The creek also is commonly known by the same name. See number 122. Tsundige'wi--"Closed anuses," literally "They have them closed," understood to refer to the anus; from dige'wi, plural of ge'wi, closed, stopped up, blind; cf. Tsul`kalû'; also Gûlisge'wi, "Blind, or closed, ears," an old personal name. See number 74. tsun'digwûn'tski (contracted from tsun'digwûntsu`gi, "they have them forked," referring to the peculiar forked tail; cf. Tsul`kalû')--a migratory bird which once appeared for a short time upon the East Cherokee reservation, apparently, from the description, the scissortail or swallow-tailed flycatcher (Milvulus forficatus). See number 35. Tsunegûñ'yi (sometimes called Tsul`kalû' Tsunegûñ'yi')--Tennessee bald, at the extreme head of Tuckasegee river, on the east line of Jackson county, North Carolina. The name seems to mean, "There where it is white," from ts, a prefix indicating distance, une'ga, white, and yi, locative. See number 81 and notes. Tsunil'`kalû--the plural form for Tsul`kalû, q. v.; a traditional giant tribe in the west. See number 106. tsunû'`liyû'sûnestlâ'ta--"they have split noses," from agwa`liyû', "I have it," and unestlâû', "it is cracked" (as a crack made by the sun's heat in a log or in the earth); the initial s makes it refer to the nose, kayasa'. See number 76 and notes. tsunis'tsahi'--"(those) having topknots or crests," from ustdahû', "having a topknot," ustsahi', "he has a topknot" (habitual). See number 76 and notes. Tsuniya'tiga--"Naked People"; literally "They are naked there," from uya'tiga, naked (singular), with the prefix ts, indicating distance. A traditional western tribe. See number 105. tsunsdi'--contracted from tsunsdi'ga, the plural of usdi'ga or usdi', small. Tsunu'lahûñ'ski-- "He tries, but fails" (habitually), from detsinu'lahûñ'gû' (q. v.), "I tried, but failed." A former noted chief among the East Cherokee, commonly known to the whites as Junaluska. In early life he was called Gûl`kala'ski, a name which denotes something habitually falling from a leaning position (cf. Ata-gûl`kalû' and Tsul`kalû'.) See page 164. tsûñ-ka'wi-ye', tsûñ-sikwa-ya', tsûñ-tsu'la-ya', tsûñ-wa'`ya-ya'--"I am (tsûñ or tsi, verbal prefix) a real (ya, ye, noun suffix) deer" (kawi', archaic for a`wi'); opossum, si'kwa; fox, tsu`la; wolf, wa`ya. Archaic song forms. See number 15. Tsûsginâ'i--"the Ghost country," from asgi'na, "ghost," i, locative, and ts, a prefix denoting distance. The land of the dead; it is situated in Usûñhi'yi, the Twilight land, in the west. See number 5. tsuakwa`li--plural of uskwa`li, short. Tsuskwanûñ'nawa'ta--"Worn-out blanket," from tsuskwanûñ'ni, blanket (the word refers to something having stripes), and uwa'ta, "worn out." James D. Wafford, a prominent Cherokee mixed-blood and informant in the Western nation, who died about 1896. See page 236. Tsûta'ga Uweyûñ'i--"Chicken creek," from tsûta'ga, chicken, and uweyûñ'i, stream. An extreme eastern head-stream of Nantahala river, in Macon county, North Carolina. See number 122. Tsuta'tsinasûñ'yi--"Eddy place." A place on Cheowa river at the mouth of Cockram creek, in Graham county, North Carolina. For tradition see number 122. tsutsu'--see tlutlu'. tsûñtû'tsi--see tlûñtû'tsi. tsuwa'--the mud-puppy or water-dog (Menopoma or Protonopsis). See number 59. Tsuwa`tel'da--a contraction of Tsuwa`teldûñ'yi; the name has lost its meaning. Pilot knob, north from Brevard, in Transylvania county, North Carolina. See number 82 and notes. Tsuwa'-uniyetsûñ'yi--"Where the water-dogs laughed," from tsuwa' (q. v.), "water-dog," uniye'tsû, "they laughed" (agiyet'skû, "I am laughing"), and yi, locative; Tusquittee bald, near Hayesville, in Clay county, North Carolina. For story see number 122. Tsuwe'nahi--A traditional hunter, in communication with the invisible people. See number 83. The name seems to mean "He has them in abundance," an irregular or archaic form for Uwe'nai, "he has abundance," "he is rich," from agwe'nai', "I am rich." As a masculine name it is used as the equivalent of Richard. See number 83. Tuckalechee--see Tikwali'si. Tuckasegee--see Tsiksi'tai. Tugaloo--see Dugilu'yi. tugalu!--the cry of the dagûl`kû goose. tugalû'na--a variety of small fish, about four inches long, frequenting the larger streams (from galû'na, a gourd, on account of its long nose). See number 39 and notes. tûksi'--the terrapin or land tortoise; also the name of a Cherokee chief about the close of the Revolution. Saligu'gi, common turtle; soft-shell turtle, u`lana'wa. Tûksi'tsi--see Tsiksi'tsi. Tuli-cula--see Tsul`kalû'. tûlsku'wa--"he snaps with his head," from uska', head; the snapping beetle. Tunâ'i--a traditional warrior and medicine-man of old Itsâ'ti; the name can not be analyzed. See number 99. Turkeytown--see Gûn-di'gaduhûñ'yi. Turniptown--see U`lûñ'yi. Tuskegee--see Ta`ski'gi. Tusquittee bald--see Tsuwa'-uniyetsûñ'yi. Tusquittee creek--see Daskwitûñ'yi. tu'sti--for tusti'ga, a small bowl; larger jars are called diwa'`li and ûñti'ya. tûñ'tawû'--a small yellow night-moth. The name comes from ahûñ'tû, a word implying that something flits into and out of the blaze. See number 59. tu'ti--snowbird. Tuti'yi--"Snowbird place," from tu'ti, snowbird, and yi, locative. Little Snow-bird creek of Cheowa river, in Graham county, North Carolina. tû'tsahyesi'--"he will marry you." tu'ya--bean. tu'ya-diskalaw`sti'ski--see ta'gû. tû'yahusi'--"she will die." Tymahse--see Tomassee. Uchee--see Ani'-Yu'tsi. udâ'hale'yi--"on the sunny side." udâ'i--the baneberry or cohosh vine (Actæa?). The name signifies that the plant has something long hanging from it. uda`li--"(it is) married"; the mistletoe, so called on account of its parasitic habit. U'dawagûñ'ta--"Bald." A bald mountain of the Great Smoky range, in Yancey county, North Carolina, not far from Mount Mitchell. See number 51. Udsi'skala--a masculine name. uga'sita--sour. ûñgida'--"thy two elder brothers" (male speaking). See notes to number 63. ûñgili'si (plural, tsûñgili'si)--"my daughter's child." See note to number 66, and cf. ûñgini'si. ûñgini'li--"my elder brother" (female speaking). See notes to number 63. ûñgini'si (plural tsûñgini'si)--"my son's child." See note to number 66, and cf. ûñgili'si. u'giska'--"he is swallowing it"; from tsikiû', "I am eating." See number 8 and notes. u'guku'--the hooting or barred owl (Syrnium nebulosum); the name is an onomatope. See also tskili' and wa'`huhu'. ugûñste'li (ugûñste'lû in dialectic form)--the hornyhead fish (Campostoma, stone roller). The name is said, on doubtful authority, to refer to its having horns. See number 59. Uguñ'yi--Tallulah falls, on the river of that name, northeast from Clarkesville, in Habersham county, Georgia; the meaning of the name is lost. See number 84. Uilata--See U`tlûñ'ta. uk-ku'sûñtsûteti'--"it will twist up one's arm." See number 115. Uk-ku'sûñtsûti--"Bent-bow-shape"; a comic masculine name. Cf. gûltsû'ti, bow. See number 115. uk-kwûnagi'sti--"it will draw down one's eye." See number 115. Uk-kwûnagi'ta--"Eye-drawn-down"; a comic masculine name. See number 115. uksu'hi--the mountain blacksnake or black racer (Coluber obsoletus); the name seems to refer to some peculiarity of the eye, akta'; uksuha', "he has something lodged in his eye." See number 53 and notes. Ukte'na--"Keen-eyed (?)" from akta', eye, akta'ti, to examine closely. A mythic great horned serpent, with a talismanic diadem. See number 50 and notes. Ukte'na-tsuganûñ'tatsûñ'yi--"Where the Uktena got fastened." A spot on Tuckasegee river, about two miles above Bryson City, in Swain county, North Carolina. See number 122. Uktena-utansi'nastûñ'yi--"Where the Uktena crawled." A rock on the north bank of Tuckasegee river, about four miles above Bryson City, in Swain county, North Carolina. See number 122. Ukwû'nû (or Ukwû'ni)--a former Cherokee settlement, commonly known to the whites as Oconee, on Seneca creek, near the present Walhalla, in Oconee county, South Carolina. Ula`gû'--the mythic original of the yellow-jacket tribe. See number