334 MYTHS OF THE CHEROKEE (eth.axn.I'J 



People had found hiui and taken him to one of their caves and tended 

 him until he was cured. 



About twenty -five years ago a man named Tsantawu' was lost in the 

 mountains on the head of Oconaluftoe. It was winter time and very 

 cold and his friends thought he must l)e dead, but after sixteen days 

 he came back and said that the Little People had found him and taken 

 him to their cave, where he had been well treated, and given plenty of 

 everything to eat except bread. This was in large loaves, })ut when 

 he took them in his hand to eat they seemed to shrink into small cakes 

 so light and crumbly that though he might eat all day he would not 

 be satisfied. After he was well rested they had brought him a part of 

 the way home until they came to a small creek, about knee deep, when 

 they told him to wade across to reach the main trail on the other side. 

 He waded across and turned to look back, but the Little People were 

 gone and the creek was a deep river. When he reached home his 

 legs were frozen to the knees and he lived only a few days. 



Once the Yunwi Tsunsdi' had been very kind to the people of a cer- 

 tain settlement, helping them at night with their work and taking good 

 care of any lost children, until something happened to otiend them and 

 they made up their minds to leave the neighborhood. Those who were 

 watching at the time saw the whole company of Little People come 

 down to the ford of the river and cross over and disappear into the 

 mouth of a large cave on the other side. They were never heard of 

 near the settlement again. 



There are other fairies, the YimiolAmai'yine'M, or Water-dwellers, 

 who live in the water, and fishermen praj- to them for help. Other 

 friendly spirits live in people's houses, although no one can see them, 

 and so long as they are there to protect the house no witch can come 

 near to do mischief. 



Tmvxt'si and Tmga'si are the names of two small fairies, who are 

 mischievous enough, but yet often help the hunter who prays to them. 

 Tsawa'si, or Tsiiwa'si Usdi'ga (Little Tsawa'si), is a tiny fellow, 

 very handsome, with long hair falling down to his feet, who lives 

 in grassy patches on the hillsides and has great power over the game. 

 To the deer hunter who prays to him he gives skill to slip up on the 

 deer through the long grass without being seen. Tsaga'si is another 

 of the spirits invoked by the hunter and is very helpful, but when some- 

 one, trips and falls, we know that it is Tsaga'si who has caused it. 

 There are several other of these fairies with names, all good-natured, 

 but more or less tricky. 



Then there is De'tmtd. De'tsatii was once a boy who ran away to 

 the woods to avoid a scratching and tries to keep himself invisible ever 

 since. He is a handsome little fellow and spends his whole time hunt- 

 ing ))irds with l)lowgun and arrow. He has a great many children 

 who are all just like him and have the same name. When a tlock of 



