496 MYTHS OF THK OUKKOKEE [eth.ann.19 



\vrapi)e(l in red cloth and decorated with various trinkets, was kept cons^tantly sus- 

 pended from a tall pole set up in front of his tipi, and whenever at night the warn- 

 ing cry sounded from the thicket he was accustomed to leave his place at the fire and 

 go out, returning in a short while with a new revelation. 



Rafts — The Cherokee canoe is hewn from a poplar log and is too heavy to be car- 

 ried about like the bark canoe of the northern tribes. As a temporary expedient 

 they sometimes used a bear or buffalo skin, t\-ing the legs together at each end to 

 fashion a rude boat. Upon this the baggage was loaded, while the owner swam 

 behind, pushing it forward through the water. 



102. The false warriors of Chilhowkk (p. .37.5) : This story was given by .'Swim- 

 mer and corroborated by others as that of an actual incident of the old times. The 

 middle Cherokee (Kituhwa) settlements, on the head-streams of the Little Ten- 

 nessee, were separated from the upper settlements, about its junction with the main 

 Tennessee, by many miles of extremely rough mountain country. Dialectic differ- 

 ences and local jealousies bred friction, which sometimes brought the two sections 

 into collision and rendered possible such an occurrence as is here narrated. On 

 account of this jealousy, according to Adair, the first Cherokee war, whicli began 

 in 1760, concerned for some time only a part of the tribe. "According to the well- 

 known temper of the Cheerake in similar cases it might either have remained so, or 

 soon have been changed into a very hot civil war, had we been so wise as tu have 

 improved tlie favourable opportunity. There were seven northern towns, op]iosite 

 to the middle parts of the Cheerake country, who from the beginning of the nnhaiijiy 

 grievances, firmly dissented from the hostile intentions of their suffering and enraged 

 countrymen, and for a considerable time before bore them little goodwill, on account 

 of some family disputes which occasioned each party to be more favourable to itself 

 than to the other. These would readily have gratified their vindictive disposition 

 either by a neutrality or an offensive alliance with our colonists against them" 

 (History of the American Indians, page 248). 



Chilhowee (properly Tsii' luii'we or Tsu'la'wi ) was a noted settlement on the south 

 bank of Little Tennessee river, opposite the present Chilhowee, in Monroe county, 

 Tennessee. Cowee (properly Kawi'yl, al^breviated Kawi') was the name of two or 

 more former settlements. The one here meant was at the junction of Cowee creek 

 with Little Tennes.see river, a short distance below the present Franklin, in Macon 

 county. North Carolina. Neither name can be analyzed. The gunstocker's name, 

 CTiilsildi'hl or Giiltsfldi'hl, and that of the original owner of the gun, Giinskftli'skl, 

 are both of doubtful etymology. 



Great war trail — See historical note 19. 



Scalp dance— This dance, common to every tribe east of the Rocky mountains, was 

 held to celebrate the taking of fresh scalps from the enemy. The scalps, painted 

 red on the fleshy .side, decorated and stretched in small hoops attached to the ends of 

 poles, were carried in the dance by the wives and sweethearts of the warriors, while 

 in the i)au.ses of the song each warrior in turn recited his exploits in minute detail. 

 Among the Cherokee it was customary for the warrior as he stepped into the center of 

 the circle to suggest to the drummer an improvised song which summed up in one 

 or two words his own part in the encounter. A new "war name" w-as frequently 

 assumed after the dance (see sketch of Tsunu'lahiin'skl, page 164). Dances were 

 held over the same scalps on consecutive nights or sometimes at short intervals for 

 weeks together. 



Vomimj for tmter—Thn getting of water from the neighboring stream or si>ring was 

 a daily duty of the women, and accordingly we find in Indian stories constant allu- 

 sion to andjuscades or lovers' appointments at such places. 



To hair a fiallplay — See note under number l-i, Kana'tl and Selu. 



10.3. Cowee town: See the precee<ling note. , 



