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                                                                           560

Anciently the Cherokees supposed a number of Beings, more than two (probably three) came down & made the world. They then attempted to make a man and woman of two rocks. They fashioned them, but while attempting to make them live, another being came & spoiled their work, so that they could not succeed. They then made a man and woman of red clay; and being made of clay, they were mortal, but had they been made of rock they would have lived forever. Others however ascribed their mortality to another cause. Soon after the creation, it is said, one of the family was bitten by a serpent, and died. All possible means were used to bring back his life, but in vain. Being overcome in this first instance, the whole race were doomed to follow, not only to death, but to eternal misery. There Beings, having created the earth, the man & woman, then made the sun and mood, and constituted them gods, to have the entire control and management of every thing Then made, & proceed in the work till the creation was complete. There Beings, having employ seven days in their work, returned to their own place above, and paid no farther attention to the earth they had created. Of their place above, no one has any knowledge but themselves.