- The Mysterious White Deer of the Great Dismal
Swamp (Va)
- Traci Poole ©
- 05/17/1998
It is said that long ago, 2 warring tribes of the
Great Dismal Swamp,put aside all differences long
enough to gather food for the upcoming winter.
The Indians believed it was because of this deer,
they were able to gather enough meat to last them
thru-out the winter.
The Indian Princess had befriended an old doe who
was named Cin-Co. One day, the deer came to the
clearing without her new fawn and Cin-Co was
limping. The Indian Princess followed the doe
back to where her fawn had stamped a rattlesnake
to death. It is said the doe wanted the Princess
to raise the fawn and care for her for Cin-Co
knew she wouldn't survive the bite. -
- Moaning from a short distance, was
a brave who, too, was bitten by the snake. This
warrior wasn't from her tribe. The Princess knew
that of she helped him in any way, she would
automatically become betrothed to him. Also if
she helped him, she knew that both of them would
die by posionous arrows from both tribes. She put
all of this aside and helped the brave.
-
- For several days, the young
Princess risked her life to help the brave. Her
father wondered where is daughter was going, so
he followed. He watched as his daughter tended to
the wounded warrior. He left, hoping it will give
the couple enough time to leave before the rest
of both parties found out. The couple struggled
to find a new hiding place but it was useless.
Soon, other braves from his tribe were upon them.
The couple just stood there and was ready to
accept death as their fate. A strange and
marvelous thing happened. A flock of wild geese
surrounded the couple. Upon the backs of these
geese was the "Swamp Spirit". The
warriors were afraid of the spirit and fled. The
Swamp Spirit told the doomed couple that the
Princess must carry out the rest of the work that
Cin-Co did for this deer had saved their lives.
-
- The Indian Princess was
transformed from a human to a white doe and her
husband was always by her side. Many people have
sworn that in the heart of the Great Dismal
Swamp, there is a mysterious white doe and a
human companion by her side and there in the
thickets, lies rattlesnakes to protect them.
Perhaps on a foggy night while the
night is full and bright, you, too, can see the Great
White Doe and her husband. Or if you are lucky and pure
of heart, the Great Swamp Spirit will pay you a visit but
be forewarned, rattlesnakes are there to protect the
mysterious couple of the Great Dismal Swamp.
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