Instantly the Red Selagwû´tsĭ strike you in the very center of your
soul--instantly. Yû!
_Explanation._
This short formula, obtained from Â‛wani´ta, is recited by the
hunter while taking aim. The bowstring is let go--or, rather, the
trigger is pulled--at the final _Yû!_ He was unable to explain the
meaning of the word selagwû´tsĭ further than that it referred to
the bullet. Later investigation, however, revealed the fact that
this is the Cherokee name of a reed of the genus Erianthus, and the
inference follows that the stalk of the plant was formerly used for
arrow shafts. Red implies that the arrow is always successful in
reaching the mark aimed at, and in this instance may refer also to its
being bloody when withdrawn from the body of the animal. Inagĕ´hĭ,
“dwellers in the wilderness,” is the generic term for game, including
birds, but A‛wani´ta has another formula intended especially for
deer.
(Y´NA TĬ´KANÂGI´TA.)
He+! Hayuya´haniwă´, hayuya´haniwă´, hayuya´haniwă´,
hayuya´haniwă´.
Tsistuyi´ nehandu´yanû, Tsistuyi´ nehandu´yanû--Yoho´+!
He+! Hayuya´haniwă´, hayuya´haniwă´, hayuya´haniwă´,
hayuya´haniwă´.
Kuwâhi´ nehandu´yanû´, Kuwâhi´ nehandu´yanû--Yoho´+!
He+! Hayuya´haniwă´, hayuya´haniwă´, hayuya´haniwă´,
hayuya´haniwă´.
Uyâ‛ye´ nehandu´yanû´, Uya´ye´ nehahdu´yanû´--Yoho´+!
He+! Hayuya´haniwă´, hayuya´haniwă´, hayuya´haniwă´,
hayuya´haniwă´.
Gâtekwâ´(hĭ) nehandu´yanû´, Gâtekwâ´(hĭ)
nehandu´yanû´--Yoho´+!
Ûlĕ-‛nû´ asĕhĭ´ tadeya´statakûhĭ´ gû´ⁿnage astû´tsĭkĭ´.
_Translation._