Myths of the Cherokee

James Mooney

• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Year: 2012
• ISBN:
  9780486131320
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Folklore & Mythology
• Index: Social Sciences

Noted anthropologist James Mooney (1861-1921) spent much of his life studying American Indians. In North Carolina, he lived for several years with the Cherokee, studying their language, culture, and mythology. His research resulted in this comprehensive volume, comprising 126 Cherokee myths, including sacred stories, animal myths, local legends, wonder stories, historical traditions, and miscellaneous myths and legends.
Among the myths included are these:
How the World Was Made; Origin of Strawberries; Why the Deer's Teeth Are Blunt; How the Turkey Got His Beard; The Rattlesnake's Vengeance; The Ice Man; The First Fire; Why the Possum's Tail Is Bare; The Bride from the South; The Water Cannibals; The Haunted Whirlpool; The War Medicine, and many more.
In addition to his clear retelling of the myths themselves, the author provides extensive background information on Cherokee history, notes on the myths, parallels between Cherokee and other myths, and further important information. Anyone interested in mythology or Native American legend and lore will welcome this treasury of authentic tales presented in the context of Cherokee history, life, and culture.

INDEX TO PART 1

NOTE: The references to pages with roman numerals are not applicable to the Dover edition and should be ignored They refer to an administrative report which appeared with the original text and is here omitted.

ABBOTT on effect of Georgia anti-Cherokee laws

ABRAHAM, murder of

ACCULTURATION, study of

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ACOLAPISSA, tribe of Choctaw confederacy

ACOMA, work at

ACTIVITIES, discussion of

ADAIR, JAMES, on Cherokee dialects

—on Cherokee intratribal friction

—on Cberokee lack of conservatism

—on Cherokee population

—on Cherokee relations with Creeks

—on Cherokee sacred ark

—on Cherokee snake myths

—on Cherokee sufferings from smallpox

—on Cherokee thunder myths

—on Cherokee war of 1759-61

—on Christian Priber’s work

—on Creek myths

—on Creeks

—on decay of Cherokee ritual and traditions 20

—on effects of Cherokee war (1760—61)

—on gatayûst

game

—on Herbert’s spring

—on horses and swine among Cherokee

—on Indian beliefs concerning birds

—on Indian beliefs concerning food

—on Indian beliefs concerning wolf

—on Indian conduct during eclipse

—on Indian custom of removing deers’ hamstrings

—on Indian marriage customs

—on Iroquois wars

—on name Cherokee

—on peace towns

—on sacred fire

—on scratching ceremony

—on Shawano wars

—on Taskigi among Creeks

—on tl

′nuw

—on welcome ceremony

ADDER, myths concerning

ADOPTION among eastern tribes

ADVOCATE, CHEROKEE, see CHEROKEE ADVOCATE

‘GANSTÂ′TA, see MORGAN, WASHINGTON; OCONOSTOTA

ÂG

N-UNI′TS

, myth concerning

AGUAS CALIENTES, examination of caves near

ALABAMA in Texas,union of, with Cherokee

—, migration across theMississippi by

—, tribe of Creek confederacy

ALABAMA, production of gold in

—, Removal forts in

ALGONQUIAN languages, study of

—myths

—names for rabbit and dawn

—tribes, study of

ALK

N

′, Natchez woman among Cherokee

ALL BONES, see KÂ′LAHÛ′

ALLEGHENY RIVER, origin of name of

ALLEGORY, development of

ALLEN, H N, on Korean myths

ALLIGATOR, myths concerning

ALMANAC, Cherokee, establishment of

ALPHABET used for Cherokee words

—, see also SYLLABARY

ALTARS of religious fraternities, study of

AMBROSIAL PLEASURES

AMERICAN BLOOD among Cherokee

AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS, work of, among Cherokee

ANADARKO, see NADAKO

ANGOLA, myths of

ANI′-KITU′WHAG

, see KITU′WHAG

ANI′-KU‘SA, see CREEKS

ANI′-KUTA′N

, legends concerning

ANIMALS, chiefs and tribes of

—, myths concerning, et passim

ANI′-TSA′L

G

′, ANI′-YÛÑ′WIY

′, see TSA′ LAG

′, YÛÑ′WIY

′

ANNUITIES, Cherokee

—, apportionment of

—, withholding of

ANT, myths concerning

ANTELOPE, myths concerning

APACHE, murder of party of, by scalp hunters 209

—, racing among

—, study of

—, use of language of, as trade language

—, see also JICARILLA; MESCALERO

APPALACHEE, enslavement of

ApPLETON’S CYCLOPEDIA OF AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY on Rev David Brainerd

—on Col Benjamin Hawkins

- on Chief McGillivray

—on Col R J Meigs

—on General Robertson

—on John Ross

—on St Clairs defeat

- on Tecumtha

- on Nancy Ward

—on Wayne’s victory

AQUAQUIRI, see GUAQUILI

ARAPAHO, genesis legend of

—, tribal medicine of

ARBUCKLE, General, on adoption of Cherokee constitution

—, reward for capture of Tahchee offered by

ARCH, JOHN, bible translation by

ARIZONA, report on collections from

—, work in

ARKANSAS, collection from

ARKANSAS CHEROKEE, conference with Osage by

—, fixing of boundaries to lands of

—, friction between main band and

—, history of

—, request of, for recognition as separate tribe

—, union of, with main band

—, visit of Sequoya to

ARKANSAS RIVER, settlement of Cherokee on

—, cession to Cherokee of tract on

—, exchange of tract on

ARTS, see FINE ARTS

ÂS

, characters of

-, recitation of sacred myths in

ASTU′GATÂ′GA, Lieutenant, death of

ATAGÂ′H

, myths concerning

T

GÛL′K

LÛ, see ATAKULLAKULLA

ATAKAPA,...