248 MYTHS OF THK CHKROKEE Lkth. an.n. 19 



then went on toward the Darkening land, where they are now. We 

 call them Anisga'ya T.sunsdi' (The Little Men), and when they talk 

 to each other we hear low rolling thunder in the west. 



* * ?. -x- * * * 



After Kana'tfs boys had let the deer out from the cave whei-e their 

 father used to keep them, the hunters tramped about in the woods for 

 a long time without linding any game, so that the people were very 

 hungry. At last they heard that the Thunder Boys were now living 

 in the far west, beyond the sun door, and that if they were sent for 

 they could bring back the game. So they sent messengers for them, 

 and the boys came and sat down in the middle of the townhouse and 

 began to sing. 



At the tirst song there was a roaring sound like a strong wind in 

 the northwest, and it grew louder and nearer as the boys sang on, 

 until at the seventh song a whole herd of deer, led by a large buck, 

 came out from the woods. The boys had told the people to be readj^ 

 with their bows and arrows, and when the song was ended and all the 

 deer were close around the townhouse, the hunters shot into them and 

 killed as many as they needed before the herd could get back into 

 the timljer. 



Then the Thunder Boys went back to the Darkening land, but 

 before they left they taught the people the seven songs with which to 

 call up the deer. It all happened so long ago that the songs are now 

 forgotten — all but two, which the hunters still sing whenever they go 

 after deer. 



WAHXEXAUHI VEKSION 



After the world had been brought up from under the water, "They 

 then made a man and a woman and led them around the edge of the 

 island. On arriving at the starting place they planted some corn, and 

 then told the man and woman to go around the way they had l)een 

 led. This they did, and on returning they found the corn up and 

 growing nicely. They were then told to continue the circuit. Each 

 trip consumed more time. At last the corn was ripe and ready for use." 



* ■>;■ * -x- * •» * 



Another story is told of how sin came into the world. A man and 

 a woman reared a large family of children in comfort and plenty, with 

 very little trouble about providing food for them. Every morning 

 the father went forth and very soon returned bringing with him a 

 deer, or a turkey, or some other animal or fowl. At the same time 

 the mother went out and soon returned with a large basket tilled with 

 ears of corn which she shelled and pounded in a mortar, tlius making 

 meal for bread. 



When the children grew up, seeing with wliat apparent ease food 

 was provided for them, they talked to each other aliuul it. wondering 

 that they never saw such things as their parents brougiit in. At last 



I 



