342 MYTHS OB" THE CHEROKEE If.th.ann.I'J 



who had stopped with the ehief. Thev .sofined just like Chei'okee from 

 another .settlement, and after a friendly meeting they took up a part 

 of the goods to be carried, and the two parties started back tog-ether 

 for Tsuwa'tcl'da. There was one man from another town visiting at 

 Kana'sta, and he went along with the rest. 



When they came to the mountain, the two giudes led the way into a 

 cave, which opened out like a great dooi' in the side of the rock. 

 Inside they found an open country and a t<iwn, with houses ranged in 

 two long rows from east to west. The mountain people lived in the 

 houses on the south side, and the}' had made ready the other houses 

 for the new comers, but even after all the people of Kana'sta, with 

 their childi'en and belongings, had moved in, there were still a large 

 number of houses waiting ready for the next who nnght come. The 

 mountain people told them that there was another town, of a different 

 jjeople, above them in the same mountain, and still farther above, at 

 the very top, lived the Ani'-Hyuntikwiila'ski (the Thunders). 



Now all the people of Kana'sta were settled in their new homes, but 

 the man who had only been visiting with them wanted to go back to 

 his own friends. Some of the mountain people wanted to prevent 

 this, but the chief said, "No; let him go if he will, and when he tells 

 his friends they may want to come, too. There is plenty of I'oom for 

 all." Then he said to the man, "Go liack and tell your friends that if 

 they want to come and live with us and be always happy, there is a 

 place hei"e ready and waiting for them. Others of us live in Datsu'- 

 nalasgun'yi and in the high mountains all around, and if they would 

 rather go to any of them it is all the same. We see you wherever 

 you go and are with you in all your dances, but you can not see us 

 unless you fast. If you want to see us, fast four days, and we will 

 come and talk with you; and then if j'ou want to live with us, fast 

 again seven days, and we will come and take you." Then the chief 

 led the man through the cave to the outside of the mountain and left 

 him there, but when the man looked back he saw no cave, but only 

 the solid rock. 



* * * * * * * 



The people of the lost settlement were never seen again, and they 

 are still living in Tsuwa'tel'da. Strange things happen there, so that 

 the Cherokee know the mountain is haunted and do not like to go 

 near it. Oidy a few years ago a party of hunters camped there, and 

 as they sat around .their fire at supper time they talked of the story 

 and made rough jokes about the people of old Kana'sta. That night 

 they were aroused from sleep by a noise as of stones thrown at them 

 from among the trees, Ijut when they searched they could find nobody, 

 and were so frightened that they gathered up their guns and pouches 

 and left the place. 



