406 MYTHS OV THK CHEROKEE [ETH.ANx.r 



first beiny just above Disga'gisti'yi, q. v.), and probal)ly mark the 

 site of an ancient battle. One at least, nearl\' off Yellow creek, is 

 reputed to be the grave of a Cherokee killed by the enemy. Ever_\ 

 passing Indian throws an additional stone upon each heap, believing 

 that some misfortune will befall him should he neglect this duty. 

 Other cairns are on the west side of Slick Rock creek about a mile 

 from Little Tennessee river, and others south of Robbinsville, near 

 where the trail crosses the ridge to Valleytown, in Cherokee county. 



Dida'skasti'yi: "Where they were afraid of each other,'" a spot on 

 the east side of Little Tennessee river, near the mouth of Alarka 

 creek, in Swain county. A ball game once arranged to take place 

 there, before the Removal, between rival teams from Qualla and Val- 

 leytown, was abandoned on accoiuit of the inutual fear of the two 

 parties. 



Disga'gisti'yi: "'Where they gnaw," a spot where the trail down 

 the south side of Cheowa river crosses a small branch about half way 

 between Cockram creek and Yellow creek, in Graham county. 

 Lidians passing gnaw the twigs from the laurel bushes here, in the 

 belief that if they should fail to do so the}' will encounter some mis- 

 fortune before crossing the next ridge. Near by is a cairn to which 

 each also adds a stone (see Degargun'yi). 



Dudun'li^ksun'yi: "Where its legs were broken off'," a spot on the 

 east side of Tuckasegee river, opposite the mouth of Cullowhee river, 

 a few miles aVjove Webster, in Jackson county. The name suggests 

 a tradition, which appears to be lost 



Dulastun'yi: "Potsherd place," a former settlement on Notteh' 

 river, in Chei'okee covmty, near the Georgia line. A half-breed Chero- 

 kee ball captain who formerly lived there, Joiin Butler or Tsan-uga'sita 

 (Sour John), having been defeated in a ball game, said, in contempt of 

 his men, that they were of no more use than broken pots. 



Dunidu'lalunyi: "Where they made arrows," on Straight creek, a 

 head-stream of Oconaluftee river, near Cataluchee peak, in Swain 

 county. A Shawano war party coming against the Cherokee, after 

 having crossed the Smoky mountains, halted there to prepare arrows. 



French Broad river: A magazine writer states that the Indians 

 called this stream "the racing river." This is only partially correct. 

 The Cherokee have no name for the river as a whole, but the district 

 through which it flows about Ashevilie is called bj^ them Un-ta'kiyas- 

 ti'yi, " Where they race." The name of the city they translate as Kas- 

 du'yi, "Ashes place." 



Gakati'yi: " Place of setting free," a south bend in Tuckasegee river 

 about ?> miles above Bryson City, in Swain county. It is sometimes 

 put in the plural form, Diga'katiyi, "Place of setting them free." In 

 one of their old wars the Cherokee generously released some pris- 

 oners there. 



