Myths and Tales of the Southeastern Indians: Title Page

25. THE MAN WHO BECAME A SNAKE (35)
(THIRD VERSION)
Two old men once went hunting and camped at a certain spot. One of them was very fond of fish and said, "I want some fish." Just then
they noticed water dripping from the top of a tree near by, and the man who was fond of fish said he would go up to see what caused it.
Arrived there, he found water in the top of the tree and some fish swimming in it, splashing the water over by dashing around. He said,
"That is what I have been wanting," and threw them down. Then he climbed down and ate them. The other said, "There may be something
wrong about fish found up in a tree that way," but his companion cooked and ate them nevertheless. The other did not like fish, so he did
not touch them.
But after the first man had eaten he stretched out and said that his bones ached and that something was the matter. The other said, "I told
you they might not be good but you would eat them." Then the body of the fish eater began to assume a curious shape, more and more like
that of a snake, until he had altogether turned into one. He could still talk, however, and he said, "I have many kindred. Tell them I will be
at the square ground (tcuko låko) and ask them to come there." Then he went into a little stream near by, whereupon the water bubbled up
into a great boiling spring. The man that turned into a snake belonged to the Deer clan.
At the time appointed the kindred of this man assembled at the square ground to see him, and when he came it was with a powerful
p. 33
current of water as if a dam had broken and they were all swept away; perhaps they were turned into snakes. Thus the water snake was a
kind of person. These water snakes had horns of different colors, yellow, blue, white, green, etc. 1
33:1 See also Forty-second Ann. Rept. Bur. Amer. Ethn., pp. 71-72.
Footnotes
26. THE MAN WHO BECAME A SNAKE (35)
(FOURTH VERSION)
Two men went to war, but after they had had some encounters with the enemy one of them fell sick and they decided they had better
return home. While they were camping about on their way back the one who was sick said that he wanted something very much. "What is
it?" asked his companion. "Fish," he replied. Later, when his companion was away from camp, the sick man found a place where a tree
had been uprooted, leaving a hollow filled with water, and in this was a fine fish. He cooked this, ate as much as he wanted of it, and saved
some for his friend. When his friend returned he said to him, "You know how much I wanted some fish. I found one and have eaten a part
but I saved some for you. I discovered it in some water at the root of that tree that is blown over." But his friend answered, "It might not be
good, but as long as you have eaten some take the rest." So the sick man finished it.
Soon after this night came on and they lay down on opposite sides of the fire. But some time in the night the sick man called out to his
friend repeatedly until he awoke him. "What is the matter?" said his friend. "I have a curious feeling," replied the other. "Look at me and
see what is wrong." So the well man lighted a pine knot and examined his companion and he found that he had turned into a snake from
the hips down.
The snake man said, "Do not be afraid of me. There is a spring over yonder and when it is morning you must accompany me thither. Take
along two pine knots. I will call out when I get tired." By morning the sick man had turned completely into a serpent which hung from one
tree to another above him. When his friend struck the two pine knots together he came down and the other led the way toward the spring.
About noon the Snake called out and his human companion stopped. After a rest they again set out and, sure enough, they arrived
presently at a nice little spring. Telling his companion to remain where he was, the Snake went down into the water and as he did so the
sides caved in all about so that the spring expanded into a big water hole in which the man stood ankle deep.
After that the man went home and when the mother and sisters of his friend saw him come alone they thought that the other had been
killed in the war. "He has not been killed," he said, "but has
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Myths and Tales of the Southeastern Indians: Title Page
turned into a snake and made for himself a water hole. If you wish we will go to see him." So all of them set out. There was now a big blue
water hole at the place, and when they arrived their guide got his knots, which he had placed somewhere for safe-keeping, and struck them
together in the water, making a great wave. Then the Snake came out in the middle of the pond. He had blue horns. After circling about in
the water he came to land near them and laid his head in his mother's lap. They hung the belt and other ornaments he had used on his
horns. Then he circled the pond again and when he came back seized his youngest sister and carried her down into the water with him.
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