First Contact With Whites
There are a few stories concerning the first contact of the Cherokee with whites. They are very modern and have little value as myths, but throw some light upon the Indian estimate of the different races.
One story relates how the first whites came from the east and tried to enter into friendly relations, but the Indians would have nothing to do with them for a long time. At last the whites left a jug of whisky and a dipper near a spring frequented by the Indians. The Indians came along, tasted the liquor, which they had never known before, and liked it so well that they ended by all getting comfortably drunk. While they were in this happy frame of mind some white men came up, and this time the Indians shook hands with them and they have been friends ever since. This may possibly be a Cherokee adaption of the story of Hudson's first landing on the island of Manhattan.
At the creation an ulunsu'ti was given to the white man, and a piece of silver to the Indian. But, the white man despised the stone and threw it away, while the Indian did the same with the silver. In going about the white man afterward found the silver piece and put it into his pocket and has prized it ever since. The Indian in like manner,found the ulunsu'ti where the white man had thrown it. He picked it up and has kept it since as his talisman, as money is the talismanic power of the white man. This story is quite general and is probably older than others of its class.
Hemp Carrier
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