No.^TT]^' ^^^' ^'^^ WAHNENAUHI MANUSCRIPT ^KILPATRICK 183 



ords available to sociologists in examining the psychological posture 

 of a highly acculturated 19th-century mixblood Cherokee toward 

 the fascinating dichotomy of cultures that was the Cherokee Nation. 



HISTOKICAL SKETCHES OF THE CHEROKEES, TOGETHER 

 WITH SOME OF THEIR CUSTOMS, TRADITIONS, AND 

 SUPERSTITIONS [*] 



By Wah-ne-nau-hi, a Cherokee Indian 



Fifty years ago, if someone had undertaken to write a History of 

 the Cherokee Nation, he would have done so with some hope of 

 success. 



At that time Traditions were learned and remembered by those 

 who regarded it worth while to preserve from obhvion the Origin and 

 Customs of the Tribe. I know of only one person who attempted the 

 task of preparing such a work. Major George Lowrey, who was, for 

 many years, a prominent member of the nation, and well-versed in 

 Cherokee Lore. 



The Manuscript was written in the Cherokee Language, and is 

 supposed to have been destroyed dm-ing the Civil War of the United 

 States. 



The following Sketches and Incidents are given as I remember to 

 have heard them of older persons; and I trust they will be acceptable 

 to those interested in Indian History. 



When the English first came to America, a large tribe of Indians, 

 calling themselves the Ke-too-wha, occupied the South Eastern por- 

 tion of North America; The Country now comprizing the states of 

 Virginia, Pennsylvania, p] North and South Carolina, Tennessee, 

 Alabama and Georgia. 



Very little is known of them, only as Tradition comes to us. 



They have always considered themselves the largest and most 

 powerful Tribe on the Eastern side of the Continent, and have been so 

 acknowledged by the other Tribes. 



Holding this place of Supremacy made them selfconfident and 

 independent. In disposition they were friendly and generous, though 

 always reserved before strangers. Fearless in danger, intrepid and 

 daring when occasion required, they were slow to take offence at 

 fancied injuries or insults. 



< Certain phases of the research necessary for the editing of this paper were made possible by a grant 

 from the National Science Foundation. 



Inasmuch as they may be meaningful to students of Cherokee social history, Wahnenauhi's orthography 

 and punctuation have not been altered. 



« Kentucky, portions of which the Cherokee claimed, was possibly intended (see Mooney, 1900, pp. 14-23). 



