ATAGÂ′HĬ, THE ENCHANTED LAKE

ATAGÂ′HĬ, THE ENCHANTED LAKE

Westward from the headwaters of Oconaluftee river, in the wildest depths of the
Great Smoky mountains, which form the line between North Carolina and
Tennessee, is the enchanted lake of Atagâ′hĭ, “Gall place.” Although all the
Cherokee know that it is there, no one has ever seen it, for the way is so difficult
that only the animals know how to reach it. Should a stray hunter come near the
place he would know of it the whirring sound of the thousands of wild ducks
flying about the lake, but on reaching the spot he would find only a dry flat,
without bird or animal or blade of grass, unless he had first sharpened his
spiritual vision prayer and fasting and an all-night vigil.
Because it is not seen, some people think the lake has dried up long ago, but this
is not true. To one who had kept watch and fast through the night it wouldappear at daybreak as a wide-extending but shallow sheet of purple water, fed
springs spouting from the high cliffs around. In the water are all kinds of fish
and reptiles, and swimming upon the surface or flying overhead are great flocks
of ducks and pigeons, while all about the shores are bear tracks crossing in every
direction. It is the medicine lake of the birds and animals, and whenever a bear is
wounded the hunters he makes his way through the woods to this lake and
plunges into the water, and when he comes out upon the other side his wounds
are healed. For this reason the animals keep the lake invisible to the hunter.

 

Source:
Myths of the Cherokee, James Mooney