e Tales About Snakes
ln<'lii<liii;» sonio of I lio .slorios which were
prevalent anion;* I lie Indians many years
ago. tog‘olli4kr with superstitions and beliefs
which liavo persisted unlil recently.
Throughout the years, color¬
ful stories about snakes have
flourished in North Carolina.
These may be found in the myths
and beliefs of the Indian, and also
in the histories and records of the
early settlers and travelers. Even
today surprising accounts of
snakes' habits, powers, and heal¬
ing properties may be heard. These
last are often given slightly dif¬
fering versions by their respective
narrators. In all sections of the
State, the art of tale-telling gives
the snake a prominent place. In
fact, ever since the time of Adam
and Eve, there has been a kind of
fascination about the snake.
Among the Cherokee, all snakes
were regarded with fear and rever¬
ence. They were "supernaturals."
having a close connection with the
rain and thunder gods. They pos¬
sessed an influence over the other
animals and also over plants. Every
precaution was taken to avoid kill¬
ing or offending one, especially the
rattlesnake. James Mooney says
that a Cherokee told him; "He who
kills a snake will soon see others;
and should he kill a second one.
so many will come around him
whichever way he may turn that
he will soon become dazed at the
sight of their glistening eyes and
darting tongues and will go wan¬
dering about like a crazy man un¬
able to find his way out of the
woods."
Other Superstitions
According to one Cherokee
myth, the rattlesnake was once a
man and was transformed to his
present shape that he might save
the human race from extermina¬
tion by the Sun. a mission which
he accomplished successfully after
others had failed. And in the
realms of myth there was the great
uktena snake of the Cherokee.
This snake was said to be so large
that people placed a saddle on its
back and rode it like a horse. It
is described as having a diamond¬
like jewel fastened in its head.
This gem sparkled with such bril¬
liancy that it dazzled the eyes of
the spectator; it even outshone the
THE STATE. Junc 12. 1948
Ki/ iimhi: w. \ulso\
sun. The uktena could cause death
by looking at a person.
The early writer. Dr. John
Brickell, described numerous
snakes in his Natural History of
North Carolina which is a treatise
abounding in both humor and folk¬
lore. Here we are told of the Horn-
snakes which "give warning to
such as approach their Danger by
Hissing like a goose." He adds
that each of these has a horn at
the end of its tail and that he has
been "credibly informed by several
of the planters, that they have seen
them strike their Horns into Trees,
and particularly into the Pine
and Locust, which in a few Hours
decayed and died, though before
that it was in its full Bloom."
The Power of Disjointing
He tells of the Brimstone-snake
which, if given "the least touch
with a small Twig, immediately
breaks, or rather disjoynts into
several pieces; and several people
in these parts confidently affirm
that if they remain in the same
place untouch’d, they will join to¬
gether again."
Finally, the Doctor says that
snakes had an important place in
Carolina's Authority
on
Precious Stones
КЛ01П0
aeu/cic*/ since toot
225 South Elm St.
Greensboro, N. C.
[gf rtt firti~$ c motogjStJ
ШЭТШШШ
мшкамуют
colonial medicine. Old skins cast
by rattlesnakes were "given with
good success in Fevers, so is the
Gall mixed with Clay, made up
in Pills, and given in pestilential
Fevers and the Small Pox. for
which it is accounted a noble Rem¬
edy."
As to the fascinating power of
snakes. Thomas Lawson, the early
historian, says: "Rattlesnakes have
the power or art. I know not which
to call it. to charm squirrels, hares,
partridges, or any such thing, in
such a manner that they run di¬
rectly into their mouths. This I
have seen by a squirrel and one
of these rattlesnakes."
Many such beliefs and super¬
stitions persist in Carolina today.
Interesting stories appear from
time to time.
Little C.irl and the Snake
When Dr. Elsie Clews Parsons,
the eminent folklorist, was collect¬
ing folk tales in Guilford County,
she was told the story of "The
Little Girl and Her Snake" by
a Negro woman. A mother noticed
that her child would go out and sit
in the chimney-corner to eat.
When she asked the child why she
would do this, the child would re¬
ply that she had to. Being curious
about the matter, the mother
watched one day. To her astonish¬
ment she saw the child put a spoon¬
ful of milk in her mouth, and then
a spoonful into the mouth of a
snake. The mother threatened to
kill the snake: but the child an¬
swered. "Kill the snake and I’ll
die." The mother killed the snake,
and the child died.
At the present time we are told
by folk that they have seen a
"hoop-snake" grasp its tail in its
mouth and roll over and over in
pursuit of its would-be victim.
Then there is the snake that
"hopped just like a rabbit." “Milk-
snakes" still suck cows dry. Again,
if you will kill the first snake you
see in the spring, you will prevail
over your enemies all the year; and
if you will carry a piece of the
plant commonly known as Devil’s
< Continued on page 22)
9
