- World was cold in the beginning
- The Thunders sent lighting and created a fire in the bottom of a hollow sycamore tree on an island
- Animals saw smoke and knew the fire was there, could not reach because of water
- Animals wanted to go after fire
- Raven flew to the sycamore tree, but the heat scorched his feathers black and he retreated
- Screech-owl went but nearly got eyes burned out, eyes got turned red
- Hooting Owl and Horned Owl got white rings about their eyes from the ashes
- Uksu'hï snake (black racer) went through the water and a small hole at bottom of tree, but got scorched black by the hot ashes and from then on had the habit of doubling back on his tracks "as if trying to escape from close quarters"
- Gûle'gï ("The Climber") swam over and climbed the outside of the tree, but fell in when smoke choked him and also turned black
- Animals held another council but all were afraid of the burning tree
- Känäne'skï Amai'yëhï (Water Spider) volunteered
- She wove a tusti bowl and carried it to the island, and put a coal of fire into the bowl
- Water Spider brought back the coal and brought the world fire
Bibliography: The First Fire from Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney. Web Source.
Image: Ring of Fire from pixabay by geralt. Web Source.
No comments:
Post a Comment