- When the
first man was created and a mate was given to him, they lived together
very happily for a time, but then began to quarrel, until at last the
woman left her husband and started off toward "Nundagunyi" the
Sun land, in the east.
-
- The man followed alone and grieving, but the woman
kept on steadily ahead and never looked behind, until "Unelanunhi,"
the great Apportioner (The Sun), took pity on him and asked him if he was
still angry with his wife.
-
- He said he was not, and "Unelanunhi"
then asked him if he would like to have her back again, to which he
eagerly answered yes.
So "Unelanunhi" caused a patch of the finest ripe huckleberries
to spring up along the path in front of the woman, but she passed by
without paying any attention to them. Farther on he put a clump of
blackberries, but these also she refused to notice.
-
-
Other fruits, one,
two, and three, and then some trees covered with beautiful red service
berries, were placed beside the path to tempt her, but she will went on
until suddenly she saw in front a patch of large ripe strawberries, the
first ever known.
-
She stooped to
gather a few to eat, and as she picked them she chanced to turn her face
to the west, and at once the memory of her husband came back to her and
she found herself unable to go on.
She sat down, but the longer she
waited the stronger became her desire for her husband, and at last she
gathered a bunch of the finest berries and started back along the path
to give them to him.
- He met her
kindly and they
went home together.
-
From History, Myths and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees by James Mooney.-
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©Eagles Aerie
Mentor
-Editor : Wareagle
- Original artwork remains the
copyrighted property of
their respective artists.
- Many thanks to
David Penfound
For permission to use your wonderful graphics
-
2000-2008
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