Âsi--The Cherokee âsi, or "hot-house," as it was called by the
old traders, is the equivalent of the sweat-house of the western
tribes. It is a small hut of logs plastered over with clay, with a
shed roof, and just tall enough to permit a sitting or reclining, but
not a standing, position inside. It is used for sweat-bath purposes,
and as it is tight and warm, and a fire is usually kept smoldering
within, it is a favorite sleeping place for the old people in cold
weather. It is now nearly obsolete.
57. The Snake Man (p. 304): This myth, obtained from Chief Smith,
seems designed to impress upon the laity the importance of a strict
observance of the innumerable gaktûñ'ta, or tabus, which beset the
daily life of the Cherokee, whether in health or sickness, hunting,
war, or arts of peace (see the author's "Sacred Formulas of the
Cherokees," in the Seventh Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology).
Similar transformation myths are found all over the world. One of
the most ancient is the story of Cadmus, in Ovid's "Metamorphoses,"
with the despair of the wife as she sees the snaky change come over
her husband. "Cadmus, what means this? Where are thy feet? Where are
both thy shoulders and thy hands? Where is thy color? and, while I
speak, where all else besides?"
In a Pawnee story given by Grinnell two brothers, traveling, camp for
the night. The elder eats some tabued food, and wakes from his sleep to
find that he is changing into a great rattlesnake, the change beginning
at his feet. He rouses his brother and gives him his last instructions:
"When I have changed into a snake, take me in your arms and carry
me over to that hole. That will be my home, for that is the house of
the snakes." Having still a man's mind, he continues to talk as the
metamorphosis extends upward, until at last his head changes to that of
a snake, when his brother takes him up and carries him to the hole. The
relatives make frequent visits to the place to visit the snake, who
always comes out when they call, and the brother brings it a share of
his war trophies, including a horse and a woman, and receives in return
the protection of the snake man (Pawnee Hero Stories, pp. 171-181). A
close Omaha variant is given by Dorsey ("The warriors who were changed
to snakes," in Contributions to North American Ethnology, VI).
58. The Rattlesnake's vengeance (p. 305): This story, told by Swimmer,
exemplifies the Indian reverence for the rattlesnake and dread of
offending it already explained in number 49, "The Snake Tribe,"
and the accompanying notes.
Prayer song--See other references under number 3, "Kana'ti and
Selu." Many of the Indian ceremonial prayers and invocations are in
the form of songs or chants.
59. The smaller reptiles, fishes, and insects (p. 306):
Gi'ga-tsuha'`li--This lizard is probably the Pleistodon
erythrocephalus, which is described in Holbrook's "Herpetology" as
being about 11 to 13 inches long, with bright red head, olive-brown
body and tail, and yellowish-white throat and abdomen. "The Pleistodon
erythrocephalus chooses his residence in deep forests, and is commonly
found about hollow trees, often at a height of 30 or 40 feet from
the ground, sometimes taking up his abode in the last year's nest
of the woodpecker, out of which he thrusts his bright red head in a
threatening manner to those who would disturb his home. He never makes
his habitation on or near the ground, and in fact seldom descends
from his elevation unless in search of food or water. Though shy
and timid, he is very fierce when taken, and bites severely, owing
to the great strength of his jaws, as well as the size and firmness
of the teeth. The bite, however, though sharp and painful, is not,
as is commonly supposed, venomous." [544]
Large horned beetle--This beetle, variously called by the Cherokee
crawfish, deer or buck, on account of its branching horns, is probably
the "flying stag" of early travelers. Says Timberlake: "Of insects,
the flying stag is almost the only one worthy of notice. It is about
the shape of a beetle, but has very large, beautiful, branching
horns, like those of a stag, from whence it took its name" (Memoirs
p. 46). Lawson, about 1700, also mentions "the flying stags, with
horns," among the insects of eastern Carolina.
60. Why the Bullfrog's head is striped (p. 310): The first version is
from John Ax, the second from Swimmer, who had forgotten the details.
61. The Bullfrog lover (p. 310): The first amusing little tale was
heard from several story-tellers. The warning words are sometimes
given differently, but always in a deep, gruff, singing tone, which
makes a very fair imitation of a bullfrog's note. The other stories
were told by Tsesa'ni (Jessan) and confirmed by Swimmer.
In a Creek variant of the first story, in the Tuggle collection,
it is a pretty girl, who is obdurate until her lover, the Rabbit,
conceals himself in the same way near the spring, with a blowgun for
a trumpet, and frightens her into consent by singing out: "The girl
who stays single will die, will die, will die."