504 MYTHS Oi' THK CHEROKEE [eth.ann. 19 



The deception was based upon the Cherokee belief that the stars are livin;? creatures 

 with feathers (see number 9, "What the Stars are Lilje " ). 



The Indian has always been noted for his love of feather decorations, and more 

 than any from his native birds he prized the lieautiful feathers of the j)eacock when- 

 ever it was possilile to procure them from the whites. So far back as 1670 Lederer 

 noted of a South Carolina tribe: "The Ushery delight much in feather ornament, of 

 which they have great variety; l)ut peacocks in most esteem, because rare in these 

 parts" (Travels,p. 32,ed. 1891). 



117. The mother be.\r's son'G (p. 400): The first of these songs was obtained from 

 Ayasta, and was unknown to Swimmer. The second song was obtained also from 

 Ayusta, who knew only the verses, while Swimmer knew both the verses and the 

 story which gives them their setting. 



The first has an exact parallel among the Creeks, which is thus given in the "Baby 

 Songs" of the Tuggle manuscript: 



Ah tan Down the stream 



Ah yah chokese if you hear 



IMah kah cho kofe chase going 



Hoche yoke saw up the stream 



Lit kahts chars, run, 



Lit kahts chars. run. 



A thle poo Up the stream 



Ahyohchokese if you hear 



Mall kah cho kofe the chase going 



Thorne yoke saw to the high mountain 



Lit karts chars, run, 



Lit karts chars. run. 



Triuidaiion 



If you hear the noise of the chase 

 Going down the stream 

 Then run up the stream. 



If you hear the noise of the chase 

 Going up the stream 

 Then run to the high mountain, 

 Then run t.ithe high mountain. 



lis. B.\BY SONG, TO PLE.\SE THE CHILDREN (p. 401): This song is well known to the 

 women and was sung by both Ayasta and Swimmer. 



119. When b.^bies .\re born: The wren and the cricket (p. 401): These little 

 bits of Indian folklore were obtained from Swimmer, but are common tribal property. 



120. The Raven Mocker (p. 401): The grewsome belief in the "Raven Mocker" is 

 universal among the Cherokee and has close parallels in other tribes. Very near to 

 it is the Iroquois belief in the vampire or cannilial ghost, concerning which School- 

 craft relates some blood-curdling stoi'ies. He says: "It is believed that such doomed 

 spirits creep into the lodges of men at night, and during sleep suck their blood and eat 

 their flesh. They are invisible" (Notes on the Iroquois, p. 144). On one occasion, 

 while the author was among the Cherokee, a sick man was allowed to die alone because 

 his friends imagined they felt the presence of the Raven Mocker or other invisible 

 witches about the house, and were consequently afraid to stay with him. The descrip- 

 tion of the flying terror appears to be that of ,a great meteor. It is a universal prin- 

 ciple of folk belief that discovery or recognition while disguised in another form brings 

 disaster to the witch. 



