How the World was made

"How the world was made" a Cherokee myth.
First the earth was a great island floating in a sea of water, it was hanging there but the four corners of the world. when all of the world was water the animals were crowded in Galunlati, or beyond the arch. they wanted more room, so they sent "beaver's grandchildren" to explore the water for some solid ground. "He could find no firm to rest" so he dived to the bottom and came p with some soft mud. It spread and became the place in which we call earth. When the earth was flat, soft and wet the animals were ready to go down from beyond the arch. They sent out different birds to check for firm ground. They had no luck. Then later they sent out buzzard, he flew all over the earth in search of a hard place, soon he was in Cherokee country and he was very tired, he flew so low that his wings kept hitting the ground, every time they hit the ground a mountain came up, this is why there are mountains to this day. The animals were afraid that the world would be full of mountains so they called Galunlati. Finally when the earth was dry the animals came down from beyond the arch, but it was dark. The animals got together and put a sun in the sky at "the seventh height" or under the sky arch. It rises and sets upon the arch everyday. When the animals and plants were first made they were told to stay always for seven nights. many fell asleep but those who made it were given the power to see at night, and those who fell asleep were told "you shall loose your hair every winter". Men came after the plants and animals, only a brother and sister. Until one day he struck her with a fish and told her to multiply. In seven days a child was born, and another in the next seven, then another, soon to many. The rule were a woman can only have a child a year was made after this, and this is how it is.


Cite:

Cherokee Indians. "How the World was made".
http://indianlegend.com/cherokee/cherokee_001.htm. <indianlegend.com.>
2003. 11 November 2008