Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Reading Notes: Cherokee Myths Part B

 Malaclemys terrapin
By Rasmussen AR, Murphy JC, Ompi M, Gibbons JW, Uetz P. Found on Wiki

The Possum and the Terrapin went hunting together and found a tree full of fruit. The possum climbed the tree and began to throw down the fruit to the terrapin. A wolf came by and began taking the fruit before the terrapin could catch the fruit. The possum waited till the right moment and threw down the largest fruit he could find. When the wolf jumped to grab it, he choked on the fruit. The terrapin took the wolf’s ears to use as spoons. On his walk home, he was offered to eat gruel out of many jars. He used the wolf ears to do so, which intrigued the others. The word travelled to the wolves who were angry. They took the terrapin prisoner. The wolves decided they would boil the terrapin in a clay pot. The terrapin laughed and said he would just break the pot. The wolves decided to roast him in a fire, but the terrapin said he would put it out. The wolves then said they would throw him in the river to drown. The terrapin used reverse psychology to trick the wolves into following that plan. When the wolves tossed him in, the terrapin swam to the other side and escaped.


Once, animals challenged the birds to a game. They agreed on a time and a place to do the ball dance. The animals were led by a strong bear, a great terrapin, and an agile deer. The birds were led by an eagle, a hawk, and the great Hawk. They were all swift and strong but feared the animals. Two tiny animals approached the birds and asked to join their team because the animals made fun of their size. The captain of the birds agreed out of pity. They fashioned wings out of a drum head which made the bats. The bats were so nimble that the birds thought they would be the best of them all. Next they stretched the skin of the other animal making a flying squirrel. This squirrel jumped quickly from tree to tree. These two animals proved worthy in the bird’s win. 

Bibliography:
 Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney (1900). Link

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