THE MASSACRE OF THE ANI′-KUTA′NĬ
Among other perishing traditions is that relating to the Ani′-Kuta′nĭ or Ani′-
Kwăta′nĭ, concerning whom the modern Cherokee know so little that their very
identity is now a matter of dispute, a few holding that they were an ancient
people who preceded the Cherokee and built the mounds, while others, with
more authority, claim that they were a clan or society in the tribe and were
destroyed long ago pestilence or other calamity. Fortunately, we are not left
to depend entirely upon surmise in the matter, as the tradition was noted
Haywood some seventy years ago, and another writer some forty years later,
while the connected story could still be obtained from competent authorities.
From the various statements it would seem that the Ani′-Kuta′nĭ were a priestly
clan, having hereditary supervision of all religious ceremonies among the
Cherokee, until, in consequence of having abused their sacred privileges, theyCherokee, until, in consequence of having abused their sacred privileges, they
were attacked and completely exterminated the rest of the tribe, leaving the
priestly functions to be assumed thereafter individual doctors and conjurers.
Haywood says, without giving name or details, “The Cherokees are addicted to
conjuration to ascertain whether a sick person will recover. This custom arose
after the destruction of their priests. Tradition states that such persons lived
among their ancestors and were deemed superior to others, and were extirpated
long ago, in consequence of the misconduct of one of the priests, who attempted
to take the wife of a man who was the brother of the leading chief of the
nation.” 31
A more detailed statement, on the authority of Chief John Ross and Dr J. B.
Evans, is given in 1866 a writer who speaks of the massacre as having
occurred about a century before, although from the dimness of the tradition it is
evident that it must have been much earlier:
“The facts, though few, are interesting. The order was hereditary; in this respect
peculiar, for among Indians seldom, and among the Cherokees never, does
power pertain to any family as a matter of right. Yet the family of the Nicotani—
for it seems to have been a family or clan—enjoyed this privilege. The power
that they exercised was not, however, political, nor does it appear that chiefs
were elected from among them.
“The Nicotani were a mystical, religious body, of whom the people stood in
great awe, and seem to have been somewhat like the Brahmins of India. By what
means they attained their ascendancy, or how long it was maintained, can never
be ascertained. Their extinction massacre is nearly all that can be discovered
concerning them. They became haughty, insolent, overbearing, and licentious to
an intolerable degree. Relying on their hereditary privileges and the strange awe
which they inspired, they did not hesitate fraud or violence to rend asunder
the tender relations of husband and wife when a beautiful woman excited their
passions. The people long brooded in silence over the oppressions and outrages
of this high caste, whom they deeply hated but greatly feared. At length a daring
young man, a member of an influential family, organized a conspiracy among
the people for the massacre of the priesthood. The immediate provocation was
the abduction of the wife of the young leader of the conspiracy. His wife was
remarkable for her beauty, and was forcibly abducted and violated one of theNicotani while he was absent on the chase. On his return he found no difficulty
in exciting in others the resentment which he himself experienced. So many had
suffered in the same way, so many feared that they might be made to suffer, that
nothing was wanted but a leader. A leader appearing in the person of the young
brave whom we have named, the people rose under his direction and killed every
Nicotani, young and old. Thus perished a hereditary secret society, since which
time no hereditary privileges have been tolerated among the Cherokees.
Source:
Myths of the Cherokee, James Mooney
