The morning call., 1892-07-13
INDIAN LEGENDS.

1t has happened that a good deal of In
formation has come to me about the two
powerful Indian tribes who inhabited
Georgia before the British lion set his foot
upon the soil and claimed it for his own.
Some one else. perchance, may feel the same
interest in the naughty Greeks and noble
Cherokees, and read with interest their ro-
mantle legends.
The Georgia Indians were in every way
superior TO those of the North and North
west They were not so intoerant Of
manual labor, were more humane, more
home loving, prov ded by law for the widow
and orphan, were fun OF hospitality. and
always kind TO strangers.
The resistless march Of civilization has
pushed them from their native soil. but
they have left an indelible impress on the
Empire State of the South.
Where the city of Columbus now stands
was part of the Greek nation in the long
ago. Near the city there is a notable place
on the river called Lovers Leap" which
is thus described by MIR. Richards: This
romantic locale is a nigh and rugged cliff.
Y hich terminates an ascending knoll OF dark
rocks, and projects boldly into the Catta-
hOOchee River. lis summit commands one
of the most beautiful displays of river
scenery which nature could present, or
which art could picture. On the left the
"
bus in a stTa ght line. Its flow is rapid and
wild broken by rocks over which tie water
frets and foams In angry surgeS. The bed
of the stream is that of deep raYlne, It's
walls lofty and irregular cliffs, covered TO
their verge with majestic forest growth.
From this point the city OF Columbus is but
partially visable. At the Leap" the river
takes sudden turn. and forms an angie
with its course below, flowing in narrow
channel so regularly lined with rocks on
h.-h rrah mi 4 to
resemble a canal. A short distance above
il makes another right angle, and resumes
It's old course.
This is the story which tells how the
''knoll Of dark rocks" got its romantic
name.
'1n the early part of the present century
this region was inhabited by two powerful
tribes of Indians. Rivals were they, with
equal numbers, proud alike Of their names,
and well they We'd with each other. There
was no tribe among all the powerful nation
of the Creeks who bOasted of its prowess
before a CuSseta or a Coweta. Yet they
were not friends; for who OF those proud
red men would bend before the ackn0wl-
edged superiority of the other? 1t may
have been a small matter from which their
jealOuSly spTang but the tiny thing
had been cherished till a serpent-like
hatred Kissed at the sound Of the others
name.
the proud chief of the Cussetas had
yeDerated by all who rallied at his battle
cry. The bOldest heart in all his tribe
quaied before his angry eye, and the proud
est did him reverence. The old man had
Outliyed all his sous One by one the great
spirit had called them from their hunting
grounds. and in the flush of their manhood
they had gone to the spirit land. Yet he
was not alone. The youngest of his
children, the dark-eyed Molnna, was still
sheltered in his bosom and all his love for
the beautiful in life was bestowed upon
her; ah, and rightly too, for the young
maiden TiValed in grace with the bounding
fawD, and the young warriors said Of her
thal the smile OF the great spirit was not so
beautiful.
While yet a child, Mohina was be-
trothed to the Young Eagle of the Cowetas.
the proud scion of their warrior chief. But
stern hatred had stifed kindly feeling in the
hearts of all save those two young Great
ures; and the pledged word was broken
when the smoke Of the calumet was ex-
tinguished. Molina no longer dared TO
meet the young chief openly, and death
faced them when they sat in a lone, wild
trysting-rlace, beneath tie starry blaZonry
Of midnights dark robe. Still they were
undaunted, for pure love dWelt in their
hearts; base fear crouched low before it,
and Went atar from them TO hide In groSser
souls.
Think not the boy-god changes his ar
rows when he seeks the heart of the red
man! Nay, rather with truer aim and finer
point does The winged thing speed from his
bow. and deeply the subtle poison sinks in
the young heart, while the dark cheek glOws
with loves proper hue.
''The deer bounded gladly by where the
lovers met and felt that he was free while
tue bTght-eyed maiden leaned upon the
bosom Of the Young Eagle Their youth
ful hearts hoped in the future. tho ugh all in
vain; for time served but to render more
fierce that hostile rivalry, more rank the
deadly hatred which existed between the
tribes. SkirmiShes were frequent among
their hunters; open hostilities seemed in
eViiable.
"And now it was told by some who had
Peered through the tangled underwood and
matted foliage of those dim woods, that the
Coweta had pressed the maiden to his heart
IN those lone places, and that strange words
and passionate were, even now, breathed by
him into her ear. Then the hunters of The
CuSsetas sprang from their couches, and
made earnest haste TO the dark glen. With
savage yell and inIpetu6us rush they bound
ed before the lovers, who sprang up and fed
and love and terror added wings TO their
flight. For while they distanced their
pursuerS; but the strength of Mohina failed
her In peFllous moment, and had not the
Young Eagle snatched her TO his fast beat
Ing heart, the enemy had made sure their
fate. Onward he rushed, up the narrow
defile before him. 1t led-he had forgotten
whittier. In few moments he stood on
the verge OF fearful height Wildly the
maiden clung to him. and even then. in that
strange moment of life. his heart throbbed
proudly beneath its burden. The bold fu-
tuTe alone was before him; there was no
return. Already the breath of one of the
pursueIs, hated rival, came close upon
his cheek, and the bright cleaning toma-
hawk shone before him. One moment be
gazed on him, as triumph flashed in the
eye OF the young chief, and then, without
shudder, he sprang into the seething water
below. Still the young maiden clung to
him, nor did the death-struggle part them.
The mad waves dashed fearfully over them
and their loud wall was fitting requiem to
their departing spirits.
The hOrr0r-stricken warriors gazed
wildly into the foaming torrent, then
dashed with reckless haste down the de-
clivity to bear the sad tidings to The old
chief. lie beard their tale in silence, but
sorrow was on his spirit and it was broken.
HencetOrth his seat by the council fire was
untitled. and soon its red light cleaned ft-
fully upon his grave"