THE SNAKE MAN

THE SNAKE MAN

Two hunters, both for some reason under a tabu against the meat of a squirrel or
turkey, had gone into the woods together. When evening came they found a
good camping place and lighted a fire to prepare their supper. One of them had
killed several squirrels during the day, and now got ready to broil them over the
fire. His companion warned him that if he broke the tabu and ate squirrel meat
he would become a snake, but the other laughed and said that was only a
conjurer’s story. He went on with his preparation, and when the squirrels were
roasted made his supper of them and then lay down beside the fire to sleep.
Late that night his companion was aroused groaning, and on looking around
he found the other lying on the ground rolling and twisting in agony, and with
the lower part of his body already changed to the body and tail of a large water
snake. The man was still able to speak and called loudly for help, but his
companion could do nothing, but only sit and try to comfort him while he
watched the arms sink into the body and the skin take on a scaly change that
mounted gradually toward the neck, until at last even the head was a serpent’s
head and the great snake crawled away from the fire and down the bank into the
river.

 

Source:
Myths of the Cherokee, James Mooney