ANTHROP. PAP. 



NO 77] THE WAHNENAUHI MANUSCRIPT — KILPATRICK 185 



The marriage of persons belonging to the same Clan, and of the 

 father's Clan was strictly forbidden ; and also marriage was prohibited 

 between relatives by blood. Capital punishment was the penalty for 

 breaking this Law. 



Clan-kin was held most sacred. [^^1 



The mother was the Head of the Family, and the children were 

 called by the name of her Clan. Affectionate regard for kindred 

 was cherished; and old persons were treated with great respect and 

 tenderly cared for. Persons, who had at any time, especially dis- 

 tinguished themselves by deeds of Courage or Bravery were highly 

 esteemed, we give an illustration — 



Once, a town was surprised by a band of enemies, and the Chief 

 killed: His wife, whose name was "Cuh-tah-la-tah," [^^ on seeing her 

 husband fall, immediately snatched up his hatchet, shouting, "Hi- 

 lu-ki! Hi-lu-ki!" (Kill! Kill!) [^^] rushed forward on the invaders, 

 striking down all who opposed her. 



Her bravery so inspired the discouraged warriors with fresh Courage 

 that they hurried on to the fight and gained a complete victory. 

 Many instances could be quoted, of brave deeds and victories won 

 by Cherokee Patriots. 



The Cherokees believed in one God, whom they called "Oo-na-hlah- 

 nau-hi," i* meaning "Maker of all Things," and "Cah-luh-luh-ti-a-hi," ^^ 

 or, "The One who lives above." They acknowledged Him as their 

 Friend, and believed that He made every thing, and possessed un- 

 limited Power. 



They also believed in an Evil Spirit, called in their language, 

 "Skee-nah"; to his malicious influence they attributed all trouble, 

 calamity and sickness.^^ 



They believed in Familiar Spirits, Witch-craft and Conjurers. 

 Witches were supposed to be able to do much harm, both to persons 

 and to property, they received their power from the familiar spirits, 

 who were emissaries of the Evil one. The more easily to affect their 

 plans, witches were thought, sometimes to assume the form of birds 

 or beasts. 



II Cf. Gilbert (1943, pp. 203-253). 



" Gv:dhale:da ('Perforated, It'). 



" Hi-.lugat ('klU you, (Imp.)'). 



» Une:hlanv:hi ('Provider, He'). Mooney and Olbrechts (1932, pp. 20-21) theorize that this term for the 

 Supreme Being Is a synonym for the sun. I discover in Cherokee theology little to support this concept. 



'5 Qalhlafdi (:hi ('Resider [or One-Who-Properly-Belongs] Above, He [or She]'). 



" There is no universal evil spirit, corresponding to Satan, in Cherokee theology. Properly an asgvna 

 is any sort of spirit, but it is usually considered to be a malevolent one. Wahnenauhl derived her connota- 

 tion from the Cherokee New Testament (Worcester, 1860) in which this term is employed for a devil, or the 

 Devil. Cf. Matthew 4:1 (p. 6): "Hna:gwohno: Ada:n(v)dho i:nage^ wudhifnv:sdane Tsi:sa, asgi:na ugo:- 

 li:yedi:i/i ayelv:se:i." 



