Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-01-02
RED MANS ORIGIN.
THE LEGENDARY STORY OF HIS
RISE AND FALL.
His Victories and Defeats and the Pro.
pheey or his Future, As Related by
Sah-ki-yah Sanders.
IBy Cornsilk. in The Capital.l

[By Cornsilk. in The Capitall
When we lived beyond the great
waters there We're twelve clans be-
longing TO the Cherokee tribe. And
back in the old country in which
we lived the country was subject
to great floods. So in the course
of time We held council and de-
cided to build store house reach
ing to heaven. The Cherokees
said that when the house was built
and the floods came the tribe would
Just leave the earth and 60 to
heaven. And We commenced to
build the great structure, and when
it Was towering into one Of the
highest heavens the great powers
destroyed the apex, cutting it
down to about half of its height.
But as the tribe was fully deter
mined to build to heaven for safety
they were not discouraged but
commenced to repair the damage
done by the gods. Finally they
completed the lofty structure and
considered themselves safe from
the floods. But after it was COM
pleted the gods destroyed the high
part again, and when they deter
mined TO repair the damage they
found that the language of the
tribe was confused or destroyed,
One day while working, a builder
sent me (Soggy) down to get some
mortar, but instead of bringing
mud | brought board. So with
the other workmen, they could not
understand each other. Then the
tribe held another council and con-
cluded 10 move out of the hoody
country and hunt one more dry and
suitable 10 their liking So they
journeyed for many days and years
and finally came to country that
had good climate and suitable
for raising corn and other plenty
upon which the ;ribe subsisted.
Other red tribes or clans to the
Cherokee tribe began 10 come also
from the old country. The emi-
grafton continued for many years,
never knowing that they crossed
the great waters. In the course
Of time the old pathway which had
been travelled by the clans was cut
by the submergence of portion of
the land into the deep sea. This
path can be traced to this day by
broken boulders. This was of no
surprise to the clans as they were
used to the workings of tine floods.
Long years after they had set
tied in their new homes in the new
country they began to hunt for the
clans of the Cherokee tribe, and
after fruitle>s search for the 9TH
ers finally gave Ii up and estab-
lished new system of seven
sacred clans to the tribe. From
that day to this they have been
searching for the five lost clans OF
the Cherokees. But after the
search was given up they then per-
manen,ly organized the seven clan
system which were separately
named after the principal seven
stars in the Yohna constellation.
After this the Cherokees settled
down and organized a government
and religious system of worship.
This worship consisted principally
of certain rites which were intend
ed To teach the more intelligent The
true nature of the heavenly bodies
or powers and the laws by which
they govern themselves and their
younger brethren, the lower planets
and their children, the sons Of men.
After this was done and The tribe
began to prosper in more favor
able climate and a richer soil
where an abundance of corn was
raised and game was plentiful.
new difficulty stared them in the
face, A strange race of men cross
ed the great waters and landed
warriors who began to attack the
Cherokee tribe The Cherokees
called in all the clans and began
to destroy the enemy. They used
their war clubs with such vim that
they defeated and annihilated the
enemy with the exception of a few
prisoners whom they saved. These
prisoners were placed in the ca
noes and sent back across the
water which they had previously
crossed. They were told to report
back to their own country what
great warriors the Cherokees were.
Then in a few more years anoth-
er fleet of warriors came across
The broad waters were literally
black with the innumerable hosts
armed with bows and arrows
They landed on the shore and be-
gan numbering the Cherokees, bat
the tribe again called in the clans
and began TO defend themselves
with their war clubs, slaughterlng
the foreigners by thousands, day
and night, having given one anoth-
er the sacred word that they would
not eat or sleep until the last enc
my was destroyed. They were
again victorious and conquered the
invaders. The Cherokees then
organized little hell of their own,
and having instructed the women
and children to gather great guam
titles OF pine resin they covered
the feet OF the prisoners with great
balls of the resin and set fire TO
them and burned of the feet Of the
captives, and while still burning
they placed them in their boats and
canoes and were told To 60 home
and report what great warriors the
Cherokees were.
Then the Cherokee tribe became
uneasy as most 0fthe clans were Il
long ways from the scene of the
great land of blood. So the war
rior clans consulted the wise men
of the tribe To see what the next
move on the part of the enemy