In the days when the "white man" first found the Cherokee, things were much different. In the dense forest game was plentiful - bear, deer, turkey, and small animals were everywhere - every thicket usually held some kind of game. The fishing in the many streams and along the coast of the Carolina was "teeming".

The native tribes of that time were called Cherokee, Catawba, Tuscaroras, Waco, Machapungas, Meherrin, Chowan, Paxsquotank, Core Poeskeit, Hatteras, Nattaway, Caranine, Neus, Pamptico, Sewees, Santees, Congerees, Waterees, Chickanees, Keiauwees, Sissipahaus, Schoccories, Esau, Sugaree, Kadapau, Waxhaws. Most of thesewhich were "smaller" tribes disappeared with the coming of the white man with his "alcohol" and disease.

At the beginning of settler's historic recording, the natives lived in wigwams or tents made of skins. However, some tribes built huts of cypress or pine bark and pitched with moss. They wasted nothing - everything was used. Fibrous trees were "skinned" and the fibers used as "string" to tie things togethers - as was small strips of animal hide. The clothing was mostly deer hides and bear skins. In the summer the clothing was very airy with foot coverings made out of skins and an animal skin draped around the waist. When readying the war, the natives tried to look as ferocious as possible, they dressed their hair with bear's grease and adorned it with feathers. Shell ornaments were worn, along with ornaments made of bones and feathers.

The natives of the Carolinas "boiled" their food, using skins. Stones were heated in a fire and then dropped into a skin full of water. when the water became very hot raw materials were added to be cooked - the stones were removed and more added during the cooking process. There are also a couple of recorded sightings of a native American taking a thick skin, filling it with water and suspending it near an open fire - meat and other items were added to the water. As the water became heated a "soup" or "stew" was created. However, anyone taking food from the "bag" had to be careful not to touch the outer edge - because if the edge were touched the "bag" would start to leak. After the meal was finished, the "bag" was thoroughly cleaned and dried for the next use. Some meats and fish were impaled on sticks and stood next to fires. In addition the natives "fried" or "barbequed" food. A shallow depression was made in the earth and a small fire was started - somewhat to the edge of the depression. Three large stones were placed around the fire - the stones were not even in height because a slant was needed. Then a large flat rock was placed on top of the three stones. This large rock became super heated and then food was placed on it and as the food cooked, the juices naturally dripped down the lower side into the fire, both fueling the fire and causing a smoking that also helped to cook the food.

The weapons of war and hunting were, for the most part, the same. Most of the natives possessed bows and arrows. Some used tomahawks - a wooden handle and a "blade" consisting of a huge rock or shell. Wooden clubs were used, spears, made of wood with sharpened stones for heads or perhaps a very pointed shell, and "knives" were stones and shells or very sharp shards of hardwood.

There are mixed reports of the first meetings of the "white" man with the Cherokee. Some say there was instant antagonism, but the majority of reports say the Cherokee were somewhat aloof, curious but not hostile. The settlers were intimidated by the ruggedness of the native people - their ability to stand pain without physical response. One missionary wrote that "the natives were of a good demeanor so long as we did not enter ourselves into their living quarters without invitation and did not refuse their gifts of food and drink. In fact they were quite willing to teach us how to hunt with their weapons and to survive in the forest world." Anoter wrote that he was "..surprised to see how kindly the natives treated one another. Games were played with a determination to win that withstood broken arms, legs and other various and sundry injuries. Any gathering was an excuse to have a feast and to play one of their games."

Another wrote "...the Indian has no regard for his family. He has no idea of protecting his family, in fact he would just as soon cause injury to a woman or child. He is by nature fierce, uncivilized and should not be be encouraged to join in any activities of the settlement."

||The Cherokee In Me||Cherokee Bits and Pieces
|| Cherokee Early Times|| ||Native Rings Page||
|| Native References Page ||
|| Native Links Page ||
||Main Page|| ||Where Dragons Live||

Free Home Pages

Geocities

Many thanks to

for the beautiful Cherokee Rose adaptation