Horned Serpent

It's called the Great Black Serpent in a place called Rockwood Glen.

They've got another one of a Horned Serpent in a place called Brackfontein at Coesberg.

And there's another one next to the Caledon River, Klein Aasvogelkop.

You know, and another one in a rock shelter at a little place called Mia Puta.

Um, and then it ends up getting in my writing.

Like, for example, um, in my novella, The Obsidian Mirror, um, I make a reference to Uktena, the horned serpent, which is a Cherokee myth, um, and that actually becomes a bigger part of a novel that I'm writing, that I'm almost finished with.

Um, but I like to, like, weave that stuff in there.

Personal experiences, um, the hotel in The Obsidian Mirror wa- it was heavily based on a place that I worked at and I audited and had a lot of spooky, um, you know, experiences.

This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.

Thirteenth Evening featuring the tale of the wars of Wakiyan and Unktehi.

Were you not frightened last night, grandfather? exclaims Wahula, the boldest of the boys, before the little circle has fairly settled into quiet.

Thunder in the moon of sore eyes is not heard so often.

Truly I think that the great mystery has set bounds to the terrors of these warriors, so that we need not tremble before them as in the old days, when their laws were not fully known.

There is a very old story concerning these matters, which I will tell you tonight.

The Wars of Wakiyan and Unktehi Waki-yan is the great bird of storm and tempest, who was appointed in the beginning of things to keep the earth and also the upper air pure and clean.

Although there is sometimes death and destruction in his path, yet he is a servant of the great mystery and his work is good.

There is a very old story concerning these matters, which I will tell you tonight.

The Wars of Wakiyan and Unktehi is the great bird of storm and tempest who was appointed in the beginning of things to keep the earth and also the upper air pure and clean although there is sometimes death and destruction in his path yet he is a servant of the great mystery and his work is good yet he rules only one half the year the other half is ruled by wazia the spirit of cold and he too purifies the air and the water when yazia the north wind the cold maker comes the animals put on their thicker robes and some even change their color to be like the white blanket that he lays over the earth then the waters are imprisoned for a season and all things sleep and rest then comes he o ka the south wind also called the fool wind he who is the herald of the thunder-bird and causes all the trees and the plains to put on their garments of green for ages there had been war between the thunder-bird the ruler of the upper air and the water monster or ung te he the ruler of the deep whenever a black cloud appeared in the sky and cast its threatening shadow upon the water all the fishes knew it for a warning to descend to the floor of their watery abode the deep dark realm away from the power of his arrows even the sea-birds must seek their sheltered coves and hiding-places pull tight their downy blankets and be still for now waukeon would sweep sea and air with his mighty wing and punish the disobedient all was quiet before his approach his breath was the tempest the roll of thunder his drum-beat the lightning's flash his tomahawk at his approach the face of the deep was thrown into a mighty commotion column after column of white warriors advanced boldly upon the land and broke upon the rocky shores with a loud war-whoop such was the combat of the spirits of air and water at which all living creatures hid themselves and trembled at last the great peacemaker the sun appeared holding in his hand the rainbow like a flag of many colors a sign that the battle is over he sent each of the warriors to his own place Gentle airs came down from above to meet and play with the little waves that danced upon the blue water.

He who is our father, the father of our bodies, whose wife is our mother the earth, wishes safety and peace for all his children.

Therefore he still watches the unruly ones from the middle of the sky, and their battles are quickly ended.

Local Cherokee elders and the surrounding haulers weren't surprised by the sightings.

In the Cherokee oral tradition, the Tennessee River, the Tenasi, has always been home to the Uktena.

a colossal horned water serpent of immense power and malevolence that inhabited deep river whirlpools, subterranean caves, and bottomless river holes.

To the native people, the white settlers hadn't discovered something new.

This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.

Thirteenth evening featuring the tale of the wars of Wakiyan and Unktehi.

Were you not frightened last night, Grandfather? exclaims Wahula, the boldest of the boys, before the little circle has fairly settled into quiet.

Thunder in the moon of sore eyes is not heard so often.

Truly I think that the great mystery has set bounds to the terrors of these warriors, so that we need not tremble before them as in the old days, when their laws were not fully known.

There is a very old story concerning these matters, which I will tell you tonight.

The Wars of Wakiyan and Unktehi Wakiyan is the great bird of storm and tempest, who was appointed in the beginning of things to keep the earth and also the upper air pure and clean.

Although there is sometimes death and destruction in his path, yet he is a servant of the great mystery and his work is good.

Memories of my granddaddy's stories continue to flood back to me.

He would tell me about the Uktena, the giant serpent that resided in the mountains.

It was said to be a symbol of immense power and protection against all evil forces.

The thought of such powerful traditions and beliefs instills a sense and awe of reverence within me.

Memories flooded my mind of the ancient Cherokee shamans and their ability to communicate with spirits, their words and rituals passed down through generations.

With every step I took, I could feel the weight of history and tradition pressing down on me, guiding me towards whatever destiny this was.

The very air around me seemed to vibrate with energy as I contemplated deeper into the mysteries of the Uktena, the spirit guardian of our people.

Fear and determination battled within me as I knew that my success in this quest would determine the fate of the people in this area.

End of section 12 Section 13 of Wigwam Evenings, Sioux Folktales Retold This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.

Thirteenth Evening featuring the tale of the wars of Waki Yan and Unktehi Were you not frightened last night, Grandfather? exclaims Wahula, the boldest of the boys, before the little circle has fairly settled into quiet.

Thunder in the moon of sore eyes is not heard so often.

My little sister cried bitterly, and Uncle says that it is an omen of misfortune.

Truly I think that the great mystery has set bounds to the terrors of these warriors, so that we need not tremble before them as in the old days, when their laws were not fully known.

There is a very old story concerning these matters, which I will tell you tonight.

The Wars of Waki Yan and Unktehi Waki-yan is the great bird of storm and tempest, who was appointed in the beginning of things to keep the earth and also the upper air pure and clean.

Although there is sometimes death and destruction in his path, yet he is a servant of the great mystery and his work is good.