[112]–[115]. Short humorous stories (pp. [397], [399]): These short stories are fairly representative of Cherokee humor. Each was heard repeatedly from several informants, both east and west.
[116.] The star feathers (p. [399]): This story was obtained from John Ax, with additional details from Chief Smith and others, to whom it was equally familiar. It is told as an actual happening in the early days, before the Indian had much acquaintance with the whites, and is thoroughly characteristic of the methods of medicine-men. The deception was based upon the Cherokee belief that the stars are living creatures with feathers (see [number 9], “What the Stars are Like”).
The Indian has always been noted for his love of feather decorations, and more than any from his native birds he prized the beautiful feathers of the peacock whenever it was possible to procure them from the whites. So far back as 1670 Lederer noted of a South Carolina tribe: “The Ushery delight much in feather ornament, of which they have great variety; but peacocks in most esteem, because rare in these parts” (Travels, p. 32, ed. 1891).
[117.] The mother bear’s song (p. [400]): The first of these songs was obtained from Ayâsta, and was unknown to Swimmer. The second song was obtained also from Ayâsta, who knew only the verses, while Swimmer knew both the verses and the story which gives them their setting.
The first has an exact parallel among the Creeks, which is thus given in the “Baby Songs” of the Tuggle manuscript:
| Ah tan | Down the stream |
| Ah yah chokese | if you hear |
| Mah kah cho kofe | chase going |
| Hoche yoke saw | up the stream |
| Lit kahts chars, | run, |
| Lit kahts chars. | run. |
| A thle poo | Up the stream |
| Ahyohchokese | if you hear |
| Mah kah cho kofe | the chase going |
| Thorne yoke saw | to the high mountain |
| Lit karts chars, | run, |
| Lit karts chars. | run. |
Translation
If you hear the noise of the chase
Going down the stream
Then run up the stream.