Eastern Cherokee Place Names

From Jarrett, R. F., 1916, Occoneechee--The Maid of the Mystic Lake. New York, The Shakespeare Press.

Transcribed and recompiled by Don Chesnut.

Copyrighted by Don Chesnut 1999.

Agitsta'ti'yi

• "where they stayed up all night," from tsigitsun'tihu, "I stay up all night." A place in the Great Smoky range about the head of Noland creek, in Swain County, N.C.

Aguaquiri--see Guaquili.

• Akwe'ti'yia location on Tuckasegee river, in Jackson county, North Carolina; the meaning of the name is lost.

Alarka--see Yalagi.

Amaye'l-e'gwa

• "Great island," from amaye'li, island (from ama', water, and aye'li, "in the middle") and e'gwa, great. A former Cherokee settlement on Little Tennessee river, at Big island, a short distance below the mouth of Tellico, in Monroe county, Tenn. Timberlake writes it Mialaquo, while Bartram spells it Nilaque. Not to be confounded with Long-Island town below Chattanooga.

Amaye'li-gunahi'ta

• "Long-island," from amaye'li, island, and gunahi'ta, long. A former Cherokee settlement, known to the whites as Long-Island town, at the Long-island in Tennessee river, on the Tennessee-Georgia line. It was one of the Chickamauga towns (see Tsikama'gi).

Ani'-Kawit'ta

• the Lower Creeks, from Kawi'ta or Coweta, their former principal town on Chattahoochee river near the present Columbus, Ga.; the Upper Creeks on the head streams of Alabama river were distinguished as Ani'-Ku'sa (q. v.). A small creek of Little Tennessee river above Franklin, in Macon county, N. C., is now known as Coweeta creek.

Ani'-Kitu'hwagi

• "Kitu'hwa people," from Kitu'hwa (q. v.), an ancient Cherokee settlement.

Ani'-Ku'sa or Ani'-Gu'sa

• the Creek Indians, particularly the Upper Creeks on the waters of Alabama river; singular A'Kus'sa or Coosa (Spanish, Coca, Cossa) their principal ancient town.

Ani'-sgayaiyi

• "Men town" (?), a traditional Cherokee settlement on Valley river, in Cherokee county, North Carolina.

Ani'-Wa'dihi'

• "Place of the Paint people or clan"; Paint town, a Cherokee settlement on lower Soco creek, within the reservation in Jackson and Swain counties, North Carolina. It takes its name from the Ani'-Wa'di or Paint clan.

Aquone

• a post-office on Nantahala river, in Mason county, North Carolina, site of the former Fort Scott. Probably a corruption of egwani, river.

Atahi'ta

• abbreviated from Atahitun'yi, "Place where they shouted," from gata'hiu', "I shout," and yi, locative. Waya gap, on the ridge west of Franklin, Macon county, North Carolina. The map name is probably from the Cherokee wa ya, wolf.

Atala'nuwa'

• "Tla'nuwa hole"; the Cherokee name of Chattanooga, Tennessee (see Tsatanu'gi); originally applied to a bluff on the south side of the Tennessee river, at the foot of the present Market street.

Atsi'la-wa'i

• "Fire--"; a mountain sometimes known as Rattlesnake knob, about two miles northeast of Cherokee, Swain county, N. C.

A'tsina'-k ta'um

• "Hanging cedar place"; from a'tsina', cedar, and k ta'un, "where it (long) hangs down"; a Cherokee name for the old Taskigi town on the Little Tennessee river in Monroe county, Tenn.

Atsun'sta ti'yi (abbreviated Atsun'sta ti)

• "Fire-light place," referring to the "fire-hunting" method of killing deer in the river at night. The proper form for Chestatee river, near Dahlonega, in Lumpkin county, Ga.

Ayuhwa'si

• the proper form of the name commonly written Hiwassee. It signifies a savanna or meadow and was applied to two (or more) former Cherokee settlements. The more important, commonly distinguished as Ayuhwa'si Egwa'hi or Great Hiwassee, was on the north bank of Hiwassee river at the present Savannah ford above Columbus, in Polk county, Tenn. The other was farther up the same river, at the junction of Peach-tree creek, above Murphy, in Cherokee county, N. C. Lanman writes it Owassa.

Ayulsu'--see Dayulsun'yi.

Beaverdam--see Uy'gila'gi.

Big-Cove--see Ka'lanun'yi.

Big-Island--see Amaye'l-e'gwa.

Bird-Town--see Tsiskwa'hi.

Brasstown--see Itse'yi.

Briertown--see Kanu'gula'yi.

Buffalo (creek)--see Yunsa'i.

Cade's Cove--see Tsiya'hi.

Canasagua--see Gansa'gi.

Cannastion, Cannostee--see Kana'sta.

Canuga--see Kanu'ga.

Cartoogaja--see Gatu'gitse'yi.

Cataluchee--see Gadalu'tsi.

Cauchi

• a place, apparently in the Cherokee count[r]y, visited by Pardo in 1567.

Chattanooga--see Tsatanu'gi.

Chattooga, Chatuga--see Tsatu'gi.

Cheeowhee--see Tsiya'hi.

Cheowa--see Tsiya'hi.

Cheowa Maximum--see Schwate'yi.

Chestatee--see Atsun'sta ti'yi.

Chestua--see Tsistu'yi.

Cheucunsene--see Tsi'kama'gi.

Chilhowee--see Tsu lun'we.

Chimney Tops--see Duni'skwa lgun'i.

Chisca

• mentioned in the De Soto narratives as a mining region in the Cherokee country. The name may have a connection with Tsi'skwa, "bird," possibly Tsiskw'hi, "Bird place."

Choastea--see Tsistu'yi.

Chopped Oak--see Digalu'yatun'yi.

Choquata--see Itsa'ti.

Citico--see Si'tiku'.

Clennuse--see Tlanusi'yi.

Cleveland--see Tsistetsi'yi.

Coca--see Ani'-Ku'sa.

Coco--see Kuku'.

Cohutta--see Gahu'ti.

Conasauga--see Gansa'gi.

Conneross--see Kawan'-ura'sunyi.

Coosawatee--see Ku'saweti'yi.

Coosa--see Ani'-Ku'sa, Kusa.

Cowee'--see Kawi'yi.

Coweeta, Coweta--see Ani'-Kawi'ta.

Coyatee (variously spelled Cawatie, Coiatee, Coytee, Coytoy, Kai-a-tee)

• a former Cherokee settlement on Little Tennessee river, some ten miles below the junction of Tellico, about the present Coytee post-office in Loudon county, Tennessee.

Creek-path--see Ku'sa-nunna'hi.

Crow-town--see Kagun'yi.

Cullasagee--see Kulse'tsi'yi.

Cullowhee, Currahee--see Gulahi'yi.

Cuttawa--see Kitu'hwa.

Dagun'hi

• "Mussel place," from dagu'na, mussel, and hi, locative. The Mussel shoals on Tennessee river, in northwetsern Alabama. It was sometimes called also simply Tsu stanalun'yi, "Shoal's place."

Dagu'nawa'lahi

• "Mussel-liver place," from dagu'na, mussel, uwe'la, liver, and hi, locative; the Cherokee name for the site of Nashville, Tenn. No reason can now be given for the name.

Dahlonega

• A town in Lumpkin county, Ga., near which the first gold was mined. A mint was established there in 1838. The name is from the Cherokee dala'nige'i, yellow, whence ate'la-dala'-nige'i, "yellow money," i.e., gold.

Dakwa'i

• "dakwa place," from a tradition of a dakwa' [a mythic great fish] in the river at that point. A former Cherokee settlement, known to the traders as Toqua or Toco, on Little Tennessee river, about the mouth of Toco creek in Monroe county, Tenn. A similar name and tradition attaches to a spot on the French Broad river, about six miles above the Warm springs, in Buncombe county, N.C.

Da' nawa-(a)sa tsun'yi

• "War-ford," from da' nawa, war, and asa tsun'yi, "a crossing-place or ford." A ford on Cheowa river about three miles below Robbinsville, in Graham county, N.C.

Danda'ganu'

• "Two looking at each other," from detsi'ganu', "I am looking at him." A former Cherokee settlement, commonly known as Lookout Mountain town, on Lookout Mountain creek, near the present Trenton, Dade county, Ga. One of the Chickamauga towns (see Tsi'kama'gi), so-called on account of the appearance of the mountains facing each other across the Tennessee river at Chattanooga.

Da'skwitun'yi

• "Rafter's Place," from daskwitun'i, rafters, and yi, locative. A former settlement on Tusquittee creek, near Hayesville, in Clay county, North Carolina.

Datle'yasta'i

• "where they fell down," a point on Tuckasegee river, a short distance above Webster, in Jackson county, North Carolina.

Datsi'yi

• "Datsi [a traditional water-monster] place"; a place on Little Tennessee river, near junction of Eagle creek, in Swain county, North Carolina.

Datsu'nalagun'yi

• "where there are tracks or footprints," from uta'sinun'yi or ulasgun'yi, footprint. Track Rock gap, near Blairsville, Georgia. Also sometimes called De'gayelun'ha, "place of branded marks."

Dayulsun'yi

• "place where they cried," a spot on the ridge at the head of Tuckasegee river, in Jackson county, North Carolina; so-called from an old tradition.

Degal gun'yi

• a cairn, literally "where they are piled up"; a series of cairns on the south side of Cheowa river, in Graham county, N.C.

De'gayelun'ha--see Datsu'nalagun'yi.

Dida'skasti'yi

• "where they were afraid of each other," a spot on Little Tennessee river, near the mouth of Alarka creek, in Swain county, N.C.

Diga'kati'yi--see Gakati'yi.

Digalu'yatun'yi

• "where it is gashed (with hatchets)"; from tsilu'yu, "I am cutting (with a chopping stroke)," di, plural prefix, and yi, locative. The Chopped Oak, formerly east of Clarkesville, Ga.

Disga'gisti'yi

• "where they gnaw"; a place on Cheowa river, in Graham county, N.C.

Diya'hali'yi

• "Lizard's place," from diya'hali, lizard, and yi, locative. Joanna Bald, a mountain at the head of Valley river on the line between Cherokee and Graham counties, North Carolina.

Dudun'leksun'yi

• "where its legs were broken off"; a place on Tuckasegee river, a few miles above Webster, in Jackson county, N.C.

Dugilu'yi (abbreviated Dugilu', and commonly written Tugaloo, or sometimes Toogelah or Toogoola)

• a name occurring in several places in the old Cherokee country, the best known being Tugaloo river, so-called from a former Cherokee settlement of that name situated at the junction of Toccoa creek with the main stream, in Habersham county, Ga. The work is of uncertain etymology; but seems to refer to a place at the forks of a stream.

Dukas'i, Dukwas'i

• The correct form of the name commonly written Toxaway, applied to a former Cherokee settlement in S.C., and the creek upon which it stood, and extreme headstream of Keowee river having its source in Jackson county, N.C. The meaning of the name is lost, although it has been wrongly interpreted to mean "place of shedding tears."

Dulastun'yi

• "Potsherd place." A former Cherokee settlement on Nottely river in Cherokee county, North Carolina.

Duniya ta lun'yi

• "where there are shelves, or flat places," from aya te'ni, flat, whence da'ya tana lun'i, a shelf, and yi, locative. A gap on the Great Smoky range, near Clingman's dome, Swain county, N.C.

Dunidu'lalun'yi

• "where they made arrows"; a place on Straight creek, a headstream of Oconaluftee river, in Swain county, N.C.

Duni'skwa lgun'i

• the double peak known as the Chimney Tops, in Great Smoky Mountains about the head of Deep creek, in Swain county, N.C. On the north side is the pass known as Indian gap. The name signifies a "forked antler," from uskwa lgu, antler, but indicates that the antler is attached in place, as though the deer itself were concealed below.

Du'stayalun'yi

• "where it made a noise as of thunder or shooting, " apparently referring to a lightning stroke (detsistay'hihu), "I make a shooting or thundering noise," might be a first person form used by the personified Thundergod; a spot on Hiwassee river, about the junction of Shooting creek, near Hayesville, in Clay county, N.C. A former settlement along the creek bore the same name.

Eastinaulee--seeU'stana'li.

Echota, New--see Gansa'gi.

Egwanulti

• "By the river," from egwa ni, river, and nulati or nulti, near, beside. The proper form of Oconaluftee, the name of the river flowing thru the East Cherokee reservation in Swain and Jackson Counties, N.C. The town, Oconaluftee, mentioned by Bartram as existing about 1775, was probably on the lower course of the river at the present Birdtown, on the reservation, where was formerly a considerable mound.

Elatse'yi, (abbreviated Elatse)

• "Green (verdant) earth," from ela, earth, and itse yi, green, from fresh-springing vegetation. The name of several former Cherokee settlements, commonly known to the whites as Ellijay, Elejoy or Allagae. One of these was upon the headwaters of Keowee river in S.C.; another was on Ellijay creek of Little Tennessee river, near the present Franklin, in Macon Co., N.C.; another was about the present Ellijay in Gilmer Co., Ga.; and still another was on Ellijay creek of Little river, near the present Maryville, in Blount Co., Tenn.

Elawa diyi (abbreviated Elawa di)

• "Red-earth place," from ela, earth, wadi, brown-red or red paint, and yi, the locative. 1. The Cherokee name of Yellow-hill settlement, now officially known as Cherokee, the post office and agency headquarters for the East Cherokee, on Oconaluftee river, in Swain Co., N.C. 2. A former council ground known in history as Red Clay; at the site of the present village of that name in Whitfield Co., Ga., adjoining the Tennessee line.

Ellijay--see Elatse'yi.

Esatanaula, Estinaula--see U'stana'li.

Etowah--see I'tawa'.

Euharlee--see Yuha'li.

Fightingtown--see Walas'-unulsti yi.

Frogtown--see Walasi'yi.

Gadalu'la

• the proper name of the mountain known to the whites as Yonah (from yanu, bear); or upper Chattahoochee river, in White Co., Ga. The name has no connection with Tallulah (see Talulu) and cannot be translated.

Gadalu'tsi

• in the corrupted form of Cataluchee this appears on the map as the name of a peak, or rather a ridge, on the line between Swain and Haywood counties, N.C., and of a creek running down on the Haywood side into Big Pigeon river. It is properly the name of the ridge only, and seems to refer to a "fringe standing erect," apparently from the appearance of the timber growing in streaks along the side of the mountain; from wadalu'yata, fringe, gadu'ta, "standing up in a row or series."

Gahuti (Gahu’ta and Gwahu’ti in dialect forms)

• Cohutta mountains in Murray Co., Ga. The name comes from gahuta’yi, "ashed roof supported on poles, and refers to a fancied resemblance in the summit.

Gakati’yi

• "place of setting fire"; something spoken in the plural form, Diga’kati’yi, "place of the setting free." A point on Tuckasegee river, about three miles above Bryson City, in Swain Co., N.C.

Gansagi (or Gansagiyi)

• the name of several former settlements in the old Cherokee country; it cannot be analyzed. One of this name was upon Tuckasegee river, a short distance above the present Webster, in Jackson Co., N.C.; another was on the lower part of Canasauga creek, in McMinn Co., Tenn.; a third was at the junction of Conasauga and Coosawatee rivers, where afterwards was located the Cherokee capital, New Echota, in Gordon Co., Ga.; a fourth, mentioned in the De Soto narratives as Canasoga or Canasagua, was located in 1540 on the upper Chattahoochee river, possibly in the neighborhood of Kennesaw mountain, Ga.

Gansa’ti’yi

• "robbing place," from tsina’sahunsku, "I am robbing him." Vengeance creek of Valley river in Cherokee Co., N.C. The name vengeance was originally a white man’s nickname for an old Cherokee woman, of forbidding aspect, who lived there before the Removal.

Gategwa’

• for Gategwa’hi, possibly a contraction of Igat(I)-egwa’hi, "Great-swamp," "thicket place." A high peak southeast from Franklin, Macon Co., N.C., and perhaps identical with Fodderstack mountain.

Gatu’gitse’yi (abbreviated Gatu’gitse’)

• "New-settlement place," from gatu’gi or agatu’gi, town, settlement, itsehi, new, especially applied to new vegetation, and yi, the locative. A former settlement on Cartoogaja creek near the present Franklin, in Macon Co., N.C.

Gatugi’yi

• "Town building place," or "Settlement place," from gatu’gi, a settlement, and yi, locative. A place on Santeetla creek, near Robbinsville, in Graham Co., N.C.

Gatun’iti’yi

• "Hemp place," from Gatun’lati, "wild hemp" (Apocynum cannabinum), and yi, locative. A former Cherokee settlement, commonly known as Hemptown, on the creek of the same name, near Morgantown, in Fannin Co., Ga.

Gili-dinehun’yi

• "where the dogs live," from gili, dog, dinehu’, "they dwell" (ehu, "I dwell"), and yi, locative. A place on Oconaluftee river, a short distance above the present Cherokee in Swain Co., N.C.

Gisehun’yi

• "where the female lives," from agi’si, female, and yi, locative. A place on Tuckasegee river a short distance above Bryson City, in Swain Co., N.C.

Great Island—see Amayel-e’gwa.

Gregory Bald—see Tsistu’yi.

Guachoula—see Guaxule.

Guaquila (Waki la)

• a town in the Cherokee country, visited by De Soto in 1540, and again in 1567 by Pardo, who calls it Aguaquiri, and the name may have a connection with waguli, "Whippoorwill," or with u’wa’gi’li, "foam."

Guasula—see Guaxule.

Gusila—see Guaxule.

Guaxule

• a town in Cherokee county, visited in 1540 by De Soto. It was probably about at Nacoochee mound in White Co., Ga.

Gulahi’yi (abbreviated Gulahi’, or Gurahi’, in the Lower dialect)

• "Gula’hi place," so-called from the unidentified spring plant eaten as a salad by the Cherokee. The name of two or more places in the old Cherokee country; one about Currahee mountain, in Habersham Co., Ga., the other on Cullowhee river, an upper branch of Tuckasegee, in Jackson Co., N.C. Currahee Dick was a noted chief about the year 1820.

Gu’lani’yi

• a Cherokee and Natchez settlement, formerly about the junction of Brasstown creek with Hiwassee river, a short distance above Murphy, in Cherokee Co., N.C. The etymology of the word is doubtful.

Gu’nahitun’yi

• Long place (i.e., Long valley), from gunahi’ti, long, and yi, locative. A former settlement known to the whites as Valleytown, where now is the town of the same name on Valley river in Cherokee Co., N.C. The various settlements on Valley river and the adjacent part of Hiwassee were known collectively as "Valley towns."

Gun’di’gaduhun’yi (abbreviated Gun’-digadu’hun)

• "Turkey settlement" (gu’na, turkey), so-called from the chief, Turkey or Little Turkey. A former settlement, known to the whites as Turkeytown, upon the west bank of Coosa river, opposite the present Center, in Cherokee, Co., Ala.

Gunters Landing, Guntersville—see Ku’sa-Nunna’hi.

Gusti’

• a traditional Cherokee settlement on Tennessee river, near Kingston, Roane Co., Tenn. The name cannot be analyzed.

Gwal’ga’hi

• "Frog-place," from gwal’gu, a variety of frog, and hi, locative. A place on Hiwassee river, just above the junction of Peachtree creek, near Murphy, in Cherokee Co., N.C.; about 1755 the site of a village of refugee Natchez, and later of a Baptist mission.

Hemptown—see Gatunlti’yi.

Hickory-log—see Wane’-asun’tlunyi.

Hightower—see I’tawa’.

Hiwassee—Ayuhwa’si.

Iau’nigu

• an important Cherokee settlement, commonly known to the whites as Seneca, formerly on Keowee river, about the mouth of Conneross creek, in Oconee county, S.C. Hopewell, the country seat of General Pickens, where the famous treaty was made, was near it on the east side of the river. The word cannot be translated, but has no connection with the tribal name, Seneca.

Istanare—see Ustana’li.

Itaba—see I’tawa’.

I’tawa’

• The name of one or more Cherokee settlements. One, which existed until the Removal in 1838, was upon Etowah river, about the present Hightower, in Forsyth county, Ga. Another may have been on Hightower creek of Hiwassee river in Towns county, Ga. The name, commonly written Etowah and corrupted to Hightower, cannot be translated and seems not to be of Cherokee origin. A town, called Itaba, Ytaun or Ytava in the De Soto chronicles, existed in 1540 among the Creeks, apparently on Alabama river.

Itsa’ti

• commonly spelled Echota, Chota, Chote, Choquata (misprint), etc.; a name occurring in several places in the old Cherokee country; the meaning is lost. The most important settlement of this name, frequently distinguished as Great Echota, was on the south side of Little Tennessee. It was the ancient capital and sacred "Peace town" of the Nation. Little Echota was on Sautee (i.e., Its’ti) creek, a head stream of the Chattahoochee, west of Clarksville, Ga. New Echota, the capital of thenation for some years before the Removal, was established at a spot originally known as Gansa’gi (q.v.) at the junction of the Oostanaula and Canasauga rivers, in Gordon county, Ga. It was sometimes called Newton. The old Macedonia mission on Soco creek, of the N.C. reservation, is also known as Itas’ti to the Cherokee, as was also the great Nacoochee mound. See Nagutsi’.

Itse’yi

• "New green place" or "Place of fresh green," from itse’hi, "green or unripe vegetation," and yi, the locative; applied more particularly to a tract of ground made green by fresh springing vegetation, after having been cleared of timber or burned over. A name occurring in several places in the Old Cherokee country, variously written Echia, Echoee, Etchowee, and sometimes also falsely rendered "Brasstown," from a confusion of Itse’yi with untsaiyi’, "brass." One settlement of this name was upon Brasstown creek of Tugaloo river, in Oconee county, S.C.; another was on Little Tennessee river near the present Franklin, Macon county, N.C., and probably about the junction of Cartoogaja (Gatug-itse’yi) creek; a third, known to the whites as Brasstown, was on upper Brasstown creek of Hiwassee river, in Towns county, Ga. In Cherokee, as in most other Indian languages, no clear distinction is made between green and blue.

Joanna Bald—see Diya’hali’yi.

Junaluska—see Tsunu’lahun’ski.

Jutaculla—see Tsulkalu’.

Kagun’yi

• "Crow place," from ka’gu’, and yi, locative.

Kala’asun’yi

• "where he fell off," from tsila’asku’, "I am falling off," and yi, locative. A cliff near Cold Spring knob, in Swain county, North Carolina.

Ka’lanun’yi

• "Raven place," from ka’lanu, raven, and yi, the locative. The proper name of Big-cove settlement upon the East Cherokee reservation, Swain county, N.C., sometimes also called Raventown.

Kal-detsi’yunyi

• "where the bones are," from ka’lu, bone, and detsi’yunyi, "where (yi) they (de—plural prefix) are lying." A spot near the junction of East Buffalo Creek with Cheowa river, in Graham county, N.C.

Kana’sta, Kanastun’yi

• a Traditional Cherokee settlement, formerly on the head-waters of the French Broad river, near the present Brevard, in Transylvania county, North Carolina. The meaning of the first name is lost. A settlement called Cannostee or Cannastion is mentioned as existing on Hiwassee river in 1776.

Kanuga

• also written Canuga; a Lower Cherokee settlement, apparently on the waters of Keowee river, in S.C., destroyed in 1751; also a traditional settlement on Pigeon river, probably near the present Waynesville, in Haywood county, N.C. The name signifies "a scratcher," a sort of bone-toothed comb with which ball-players are scratched upon their naked skin preliminary to applying the conjured medicine; de’tsinuga’sku, "I am scratching it."

Kanu’gulayi, or Kanu’gulun’yi

• "Brier place," from kanugu’la, brier (cf. Kanu’ga); a Cherokee settlement formerly on Nantahala river, about the mouth of Briertown creek, in Macon county, N.C.

Kasdu’yi

• "Ashes place," from kasdu, ashes, and yi, the locative. A modern Cherokee name for the town of Ashville, Buncombe county, N.C. The ancient name for the same site is Unta’kiyasti’yi, q.v.

Kawan’-ura’sunyi

• (abbreviated Kawan’-ura’sun in the Lower dialect—"where the duck fell," from kawa’na, duck, ura’sa (ula’sa), "it fell," and yi, locative. A point on Conneross creek (from Kawan’-ura’sun), near Seneca, in Oconee county, S.C.

Kawi’yi (abbreviated Kawi’)

• a former important Cherokee settlement commonly known as Cowee, about the mouth of Cowee creek of Little Tennessee river, some 10 miles below Franklin, in Macon county, N.C. The name may possibly be a contraction of Ani’-Kawi’yi, "Place of the Deer clan."

Keeowhee—see Keowee.

Kenesaw—see Gansa’gi.

Keowee

• the name of two or more former Cherokee settlements. One sometimes ditinguished as "Old Keowee," the principal of the Lower Cherokee towns, was on the river of the same name, near the present Fort George, in Oconee county, of S.C. Another, distinguished as New Keowee, was on the head-waters of Twelve-mile creek, in Pickens county, S.C. According to Wafford the correct form is Kuwahi’yi, abbreviated Kuwahi’, Mulberry-grove place." Says Wafford, "the whites murdered the name as they always do." Cf. Kuwa’hi.

Ketoowah—see Kitu’hwa.

Kittuwa—see Kitu’hwa.

Kitu’hwa

• an important ancient Cherokee settlement formerly upon Tuckasegee river, and extending from above the junction of Oconaluftee down nearly to the present Bryson City, in Swain county, N.C. The name, which appears also as Kettooah, Kittoa, Kittowa, etc., has lost its meaning. The people of this and the subordinate settlements on the waters of the Tuckasegee were known as Ani’-Kitu’hwagi, and the name was frequently extended to include the whole tribe. For this reason it was adopted in later times as the name of the Cherokee secret organization, commonly known to the whites as the Ketoowah society, pledged to the defense of Cherokee autonomy.

Klausuna—see Tlanusi’yi.

Knoxville—see Kuwanda’ta lun’yi.

Kuku’

• "cymbling"; also the "jigger weed," or "pleurisy root" (Asclepias tuberosa). Coco creek of Hiwassee river, and Coker post-office, in Monroe county, Tennessee, derive their name from this word.

Kulsetsi’yi (abbreviated Kulse’tsi)

• "Honey-locust place," from kulse’tsi, honey-locust (Gleditschia) and yi, locative; as the same word, kulse’ tsi, is also used for "sugar," the local name has commonly been rendered Sugartown by the traders. The name of several former settlement places in the old Cherokee country. One was upon Keowee river, near the present Fall creek, in Oconee county, S.C.; another was on Sugartown or Cullasagee (Kulse'’si) creek, near the present Franklin, in Macon county, N.C.; a third was on Sugartown creek, near the present Morgantown, in Fannin county, Ga.

Kunnesee—see Tsi’yu-gunsi’ni.

Kunstutsi’yi

• "Sassafras place," from kunstu’tsi, sassafras, and yi, locative. A gap in the Great Smoky range, about the head of Noland creek, on the line between North Carolina and Sevier county, Tenn.

Kusa’

• Coosa creek, an upper tributary of Nottely river, near Blairsville, Union county, Georgia. The change of accent from Ku’sa (Creek, see Ani’-Ku’sa) makes it locative.

Ku’sa-nunna’hi

• "Creek trail," from Ku’sa, Creek Indian, and nunna’hi, path, trail; cf. Suwa’li-nun-na’hi. A former important Cherokee settlement, including also a number of Creeks and Shawano, where the trail from the Ohio region to the creek country crossed Tennessee river, at the present Guntersville, in Marshall county, Ala. It was known to the traders as Creek-path, and later as Gunter’s landing, from a Cherokee mixed-blood named Gunter.

Ku’swati’yi (abbreviated Ku’saweti’)

• "Old Creek place," from Ku’sa, a Creek Indian (plural Ani’-ku’sa), uwe’ti, old, and yi, locative. Coosawatee, an important Cherokee settlement formerly on the lower part of Coosawatee river, in Gordon county, Ga. In one document the name appears, by error, Tensawattee.

Kuwa’hi

• "Mulberry place," from ku’wa, mulberry tree, and hi, locative. Clingman’s dome, about the head of Deep creek, on the Great Smoky range, between Swain county, N.C., and Sevier county, Tenn. See also Keowee.

Kuwanda’ta lun’yi (abbreviated Kuwanda’ta lun)

• "Mulberry grove," from ku’wa, mulberry; the Cherokee name for the present site of Knoxville, in Knox county, Tenn.

Kwa’li, Kwalun’yi

• Qualla or Quallatown, the former agency for the East Cherokee and now a post-office station, just outside the reservation, on a branch of Soco creek, in Jackson county, North Carolina. It is the Cherokee form for "Polly," and the station was so-called from an old woman of that name who formerly lived near by; Kwa’li, "Polly" Kwalun’yi, "Polly’s place." The reservation is locally known as the Qualla boundary.

Long Island—see Amaye li-gunahi’ta.

Lookout Mountain Town—see Danda’ganu’.

Memphis—see Tsuda’talesun’yi.

Mialaquo—see Amaye l-e’gwa.

Mussel Shoals—see Dagu’nahi.

Nacoochee—Na’gu tsi.

Na’duli

• known to the whites as Nottely. A former Cherokee settlement on Nottely river, close to the Georgia line, in Cherokee county, N.C. The name cannot be translated and has not any connection with na tu li, "spicewood."

Na’gu tsi’

• a former important settlement about the junction of Soquee and Santee rivers, in Nacoochee valley, at the head of Chattahoochee river, in Habersham county, Ga. The meaning of the word is lost and it is doubtful if it be of Cherokee origin. It may have some connection with the name of the Uchee Indians. The great mound farther up Sautee river, in White county, was known to the Cherokee as Itsa’ti.

Na’na-tlu gun’yi (abbreviated Na’na-tlu gun’, or Na’na-tsu gun’)

• "Spruce-tree place," from na’na, spruce, tlu gun’i, or tsu gun’i, a tree (standing) and yi, locative. 1. A traditional ancient Cherokee settlement on the site of Jonesboro, Washington county, Tenn. The name of Nolichucky river is probably a corruption of the same word. 2. Nan-tsu gun, a place on Nottely river, close to its junction with Hiwassee, in Cherokee county, N.C.

Nantahala—see Nundaye’ li.

Nashville—see Dagu’nawe’lahi.

Nats-asun’tlunyi (abbreviated Na ts-asun’tlun)

• "Pine-footing place," from na’tsi, pine, asun’tli or asuntlun’i, footlog, bridge, and yi, locative. A former Cherokee settlement, commonly known as Pinelog, on the creek of the same name, in Bartow county, Georgia.

New Echota, Newtown—see Itsa’ti.

Nickajack—see Nikutse’gi.

Nikwasi’ (or Nikwsi’)

• an important ancient settlement on Little Tennessee river, where now is the town of Franklin, in Macon county, N.C. A large mound marks the site of the town-house. The name appears in old documents as Nequasee, Nucassee, etc. Its meaning is lost.

Nikutse’gi (also Nukatse’gi, Nikwatse’gi, or abbreviated Nikutseg’)

• Nickajack, an important Cherokee settlement, about 1790, on the south bank of Tennessee river, at the entrance of Nickajack creek, in Marion county, Tenn. One of the Five Chickamauga towns (see Tsikama’gi). The meaning of the word is lost and it is probably not of Cherokee origin, although it occurs also in the tribe as a man’s name. In the corrupted form of "Nigger Jack," it occurs also as the name of a creek of Cullasaja river above Franklin, in Macon county, N.C.

Nilaque—see Amaye l-e’gwa.

Nolichucky—see Na’na-tlugun’yi.

Notchy

• a creek entering Tellico river, in Monroe county, Tenn. The name evidently refers to Natchez Indian refugees, who formerly lived in the vicinity (see Ani’-Na’tsi).

Nottely—see Na’duli’.

Nucassee—see Nikwasi’.

Nugatsa’ni

• a ridge sloping down to Oconaluftee river, below Cherokee, in Swain county, N.C. An archaic form denoting a high ridge with a long gradual slope.

Nun’daye li

• "Middle (i.e., Noonday) sun," from nunda’, sen and aye li, middle; a former Cherokee settlement on Nantahala river, near the present Jarrett station, in Macon county, N.C., so-called from the high cliffs which shut out the view of the sun until nearly noon. The name appears also as Nantahala, Nantiyallee, Nuntialla, etc. It appears to have been applied properly only to the point on the river where the cliffs are most perpendicular, while the settlement itself was known as Kanu’gu la’yi, "Briertown," q. v.

Nunyu’-gunwam’ski

• "Rock that talks," from nunyu’, rock, and twiwa’nihu, "I am talking." A rock from which Talking-rock creek of Coosawatee river, in Georgia, derives its name.

Nunyu’-tlu guni (or Nunyu’tsu gun’i)

• "Tree-rock," a notable rock on Hiwassee river, just within the N.C. line.

Nunyu’-twi’ska

• "Slick rock," from nunyu’, rock, and twiska, smooth, slick; the form remains unchanged for the locative. 1. Slick-rock creek, entering Little Tennessee river just within the west line of graham county, N.C. 2. A place at the extreme head of Brasstown creek of Hiwassee river, in Towns county, Ga.

Ocoee—see Uwaga’hi.

Oconaluftee—see Egwanul ti.

Oconee—see Ukwu’nu.

Ooltewah—see Ultiwa’i.

Oostinaleh—see U’stana’li.

Oothealoga—see Uy’gila’gi.

Otari, Otariyatiqui

• mentioned as a place, apparently on the Cherokee frontier, visited by Pardo in 1567. Otari seems to be the Cherokee atari or atali, mountain, but the rest of the word is doubtful.

Ougillogy—see Uy’gila’gi.

Owassa—see Ayuhwa’si [in Ayphwasi]

Paint-town—see Ani’-Wa’dihi’.

Pigeon River—see Wayi.

Pinelog—see Na ts-asun’tlunyi.

Qualatchee

• a former Cherokee settlement on the headwaters of the Chattahoochee river in Georgia; another of the same name was upon the waters of Keowee river in S.C. The correct form is unknown.

Qualla—see Kwali.

Quaxule—see Guaxule.

Quinahaqui

• a place, possibly in the Cherokee country, visited by Pardo in 1567. The form cannot be identified.

Qyoneashee—see Tlanusi’yi.

Rattlesnake Springs—see Utsanatiyi.

Raventown—see Kalanun’yi.

Red Clay—see Elawa’diyi.

Ross’ Landing—see Tsatanu’gi.

Sagwa’hi, or Sagwun’yi

• "One place," from sa’gwu, one, and hi or yi, locative. Soco creek of Oconaluftee river, on the East Cherokee reservation, in Jackson county, N.C. No satisfactory reason is given for the name, which has its parallel in Tsaska’hi, "Thirty place," a local name in Cherokee county, N.C.

saikwa’yi

• bear-grass (Erynigium) also the greensnake, on account of a fancied resemblance; the name of a former Cherokee settlement on Sallacoa creek of Coosawatee river, in Gordon county, Ga.

Sakwi’yi (or Suki’yi; abbreviated Sakwi’ or Suki’)

• a former settlement on Soquee river, a head stream of Chattahoochee, near Clarksville, Habersham county, Ga. Also written Saukee and Sookee. The name has lost its meaning.

Sa’nigila’gi (abbreviated San gila’gi)

• Whiteside mountain, a prominent peak of the Blue Ridge, southeast from Franklin, Macon county, N.C. It is connected with the tradition of Utlun’ta.

Santeetla

• the present map name of a creek joining Cheiwa river in Graham county, N.C., and of a smaller tributary (Little Santeetla). The name is not recognized or understood by the Cherokee, who insist that it was given by the whites. Little Santeetla is known to the Cherokee as Tsundanilti’yi, q. v.; the modern Santeetla creek is commonly known as Nayu’higeyun’i, "Sand-place stream," from Nuyu’hi, "Sand place" (nayu, sand), a former settlement just above the junction of the two creeks.

Sautee—see Itsa’ti.

Savannah

• the popular name of this river is derived from that of the Shawano Indians, formerly living upon its middle course, and known to the Cherokee as Ani’Swanu’gi, q. v., to the Creeks as Savanuka, and to some of the coast tribes of Carolina as Savanna. In old documents the river is also called Isundiga, from Isu’nigu or Seneca, q. v., an important former Cherokee settlement upon its upper waters.

Sehwate’yi

• "Hornet place," from se’hwatu, hornet, and yi, locative. Cheowa Maximum and Swim Bald, adjoining bald peaks at the head of Cheowa river, Graham county, N.C.

Seneca—see Isu’nigu. (Seneca town.)

Sequatchee—see Si’gwetsi’.

Setsi

• a mound and traditional Cherokee settlement on the south side of the Valley river, about three miles below Valleytown, in Cherokee county, N.C.; the name has lost its meaning. A settlement called Tasetsi (Tassetchie in some old documents) existed on the extreme head of Hiwassee river, in Towns county, Ga.

Shooting creek—see Du’stayalun’yi.

Si’tiku’ (or su’tagu’, in dialectic form)

• a former Cherokee settlement on Little Tennessee river, at the entrance of Citico creek, in Monroe county, Tenn. The name, which cannot be translated, is commonly spelled Citico, but appears also as Sattiquo, Settico, Settacoo, Sette, Sittiquo, etc.

Skwan’-digu gun’yi (for Askwan’-digu gun’yi)

• "where the Spaniard is in the water" (or other liquid). A place on Upper Soco creek, on the reservation in Jackson county, N.C.

Slick Rock—see Nunyu’tawi’ska.

Snowbird—see Tuti’yi.

Soco creek—see Sagwa’hi.

Soco Gap—see Ahalu’na.

Soquee—see Sakwi’yi.

Standing Indian—see Yunwi-tsulenun’yi.

Stekoa—see Stika’yi.

Stika’yi (variously spelled Stecoe, Steecoy, Stekoah, Stickoey, etc.)

• the name of several former Cherokee settlements: 1. Sticoa creek, near Clayton, Babun county, Ga.; 2. on Tuckasegee river at the old Thomas homestead just above the present Whittier, in Swain county, N.C.; 3. on Stekoa creek of Little Tennessee river, a few miles below the junction of Nantahala, in Graham county, N.C.

Suck, The—see Un’tiguhi’.

Sugartown—see Kulse’tsi’yi.

Suki’yi—another form of Sakwi’yi, q. v.

Suwa’li-nunna’hi (abbreviated Suwa’li-nunna’hi)

• "Suwali train," the proper name for the gap at the head of Swannanoa (from Suwal’li-Nun’n’) river east of Asheville, in Buncombe county, N.C.

Suwa’ni

• a former Cherokee settlement on Chattahoochee river, about the present Suwanee, in Gwinnett county, Ga. The name has no meaning in the Cherokee language and is said to be of Creek origin.

Swim Bald—see Sehwate’yi.

Tae-keo-ge—see Ta ski’gi.

Tagwa’hi

• "Catawba place," from Ata’gwa or Ta’gwa, Catawba Indian, and hi, locative. A name occurring in several places in the old Cherokee country. A settlement of this name, known to the whites as Toccoa, was upon Toccoa creek, east of Clarksville, in Habersham county, Ga.; another was upon Toccoa or Ocoee river, about the present Toccoa, in Fannin county, Ga.; a third may have been on Persimmon creek, which is known to the Cherokee as Tagwa’hi, and enters Hiwassee river some distance below Murphy, in Cherokee county, N.C.

Tahkeyostee—see Unta’kiyasti’yi.

Tahlequah—see Talikwa’.

Tahchee—see Talikwa’.

Ta’lasi’

• a former Cherokee settlement on Little Tennessee river about Talassee ford, in Blount county, Tenn. The name has lost its meaning.

Talassee—see Ta’lasi’.

Talikwa’ (commonly written Tellico, Teliquo or, in the Indian Territory, Tahlequah)

• the name of several Cherokee settlements at different periods, viz.: 1. Great Tellico, at Tellico Plains, on Tellico river, in Monroe county, Tenn.; 2. Little Tellico, on Tellico creek of Little Tennessee river, about ten miles below Franklin, Macon county, N.C. 3. a town on Valley river, about five miles above Murphy, in Cherokee county, N.C.; 4. Tahlequah, established as the capital of the Cherokee Nation, Ind. Ter., in 1839. The meaning of the name is lost.

Tali’wa

• the site of a traditional battle between the Cherokee and Creeks about 1755, on Mountain (?) creek of Etowah river in upper Georgia. Probably not a Cherokee but a Creek name from the Creek ta’lua or ita’lua, town.

Talking-rock—see Nunyu-gunwani’ski.

Tallulah—see Talulu’.

Talulu’ (commonly Tallulah, and appearing in old documents, from the Lower dialect, as Taruraw, Toruro, Turoree, etc.)

• name occurring in two or more places in the old Cherokee country, viz.: 1. An ancient settlement on the upper part of Tallulah river, in Rabun county, Georgia; 2. a town on Tallulah creek of Cheowa river, in Graham county, N.C. The word is of uncertain etymology. The dulu’si frog is said to cry talulu’. The noted falls upon Tallulah river are known to the Cherokee as Ugun’yi, q. v.

Tama’li

• a name, commonly written Tomotley or Tomatola, occurring in at least two places in the old Cherokee country, viz.: 1. on Valley river, a few miles above Murphy, about the present Tomatola, in Cherokee county, N.C. 2. on Little Tennessee river, about Tomotley ford, a few miles above Tellico river, in Monroe county, Tenn. The name cannot be translated, and may be of Creek origin, as that tribe had a town of the same name upon the lower Chattahoochee river.

Tanasi’

• a name which cannot be analyzed, commonly spelled Tennessee, occurring in several places in the old Cherokee country, viz.: 1. On Little Tennessee river about half-way between Citico and Toco creeks, in Monroe county, Tenn. 2. "Old Tennessee town," on Hiwassee river, a short distance above the junction of Ocoee, in Polk county, Tenn. 3. On Tennessee creek, a head-stream of Tuckasegee river, in Jackson county, N.C. Tanasqui, visited by Pardo in 1567, may have been another place of the same name.

Tanasqui—see Tanasi’.

Ta’ski’gi (abbreviated from Ta’skigi’yi or Da’skigi’yi, the locative yi being commonly omitted)

• a name variously written Tae-keo-ge (misprint), Tasquiqui, Teeskege, Tuscagee, Tuskegee, etc., derived from that of a foreign tribe incorporated with the Cherokee, and occurring as a local name both in the Cherokee, and occurring as a local name both in the Cherokee and in the Creek country. 1. The principal settlement of this name was on Little Tennessee river, just above the junction of Tellico, in Monroe county, Tenn.; 2. another was on the north bank of Tennessee river, just below Chattanooga, Tennessee; 3. another may have been on Tuskegee creek of Little Tennessee river, near Robbinsville, Graham county, N.C.

Tasquiqui—see Ta’ski’gi.

Tellico—see Talikwa’.

Tenaswattee—see Ku’saweti’yi.

Tikwali’tsi

• a name occurring in several places in the old Cherokee country, viz.: 1. Tuckalegee creek, a tributary of War-Woman creek, east of Clayton, in Rabun county, Ga.; 2. the Tikiwali’tsi of the story, an important town on Tuckasegee river at the present Bryson city, in Swain county, N.C. 3. Tuckalechee cove, on Little river, in Blount county, Tenn., which probably preserves the aboriginal local name. The name appears in old documents as Tuckarechee (Lower dialect) and Tuckalegee, and must not be confounded with Tsiksi’tsi or Tuckasegee. It cannot be translated.

Timossy—see Tomassee.

Tlanusi’yi (abbreviated Tlanusi’)

• "Leech place," former important settlement at the junction of Hiwassee and Valley river, the present site of Murphy, in Cherokee county, N.C.; also a point on Nottely river, a few miles distant, in the same county. The name appears also as Clennuse, Klausuna, Quoneashee, etc.

Tla’nuwa’atsi Yelun’isun’yi

• "where the Tla’nuwa cut it up," from tla’nuwa’, q. v., and tsiyelun’isku’, an archaic form for tsigunilun’isku’, "I am cutting it up." A place on Little Tennessee river, nearly opposite the entrance of Citico creek, in Blount county, Tenn.

Tla’nuwa’i

• "Tla’nuwa place," a cave on the north side of Tennessee river, a short distance below the entrance of Citico creek, in Blount county, Tenn.

Tocax

• a place, apparently in the Cherokee country, visited by Pardo in 1567. It may possibly have a connection with Toxaway (see Duksa’i) or Toccoa (see Tagwa’hi).

Toccoa—see Tagwa’hi.

Toco—see Dakwa’i.

Tomatola, Tomotley—see Tama’li.

Toogelah—see Dugilu’yi.

Toqua—see Dakwa’i.

Toxaway—see Dukas’i.

Track Rock gap—see Datsu’nalasgun’yi.

Tsatanu’gi (commonly spelled Chattanooga)

• the Cherokee name for some point upon the creek entering Tennessee river at the city of Chattanooga, in Hamilton county, Tennessee. It has no meaning ing the Cherokee language and appears to be of foreign origin. The ancient name for the site of the present city is Atla’nuwa, q. v. Before the establishment of the town the place was known to the whites as Ross’ landing, from a store kept there by Lewis Ross, brother of the chief, John Ross.

Tsatu’gi (commonly written Chattooga or Chatuga)

• a name occurring in two or three places in the old Cherokee country, but apparently of foreign origin. Possible Cherokee derivations are from words signifying respectively "he frank by sips," from gatu’gia’, "I sip," or "he has crossed the stream and come out upon the other side," from gatu’gi, "I have crossed," etc. An ancient settlement of this name was on Chattooga river, a headstream of Savannah river, on the boundary between South Carolina and Georgia; another appears to have been on upper Tellico river, in Monroe county, Tennessee; another may have been on Chattooga river, a tributary of the Coosa, in northwestern Georgia.

Tsgagun’yi

• "Insect place," from tsgaya, insect, and yi, locative. A cave in the ridge eastward from Franklin, in Macon county, N.C.

Tsikama’gi

• a name, commonly spelled Chickamauga, occurring in at least two places in the old Cherokee country, which has lost any meaning in Cherokee and appears to be of foreign origin. It is applied to a small creek at the head of Chattahoochee river, in White county, Ga., and also to the district about the southern (not the northern) Chickamauga creek, coming into Tennessee river, a few miles above Chattanooga, in Hamilton county, Tenn. In 1777, the more hostile portion of the Cherokee withdrew from the rest of the tribe, and established here a large settlement, from which they removed about five years later to settle lower down the Tennessee, in what were known as the Chickamauga towns or Five Lower towns.

Tsiksi’tsi (Tuksi’tsi is dialectic form; commonly written Tuckasegee)

• 1. a former Cherokee settlement about the junction of the two forks of Tuckasegee, above Webster, in Jackson county, N.C. (not to be confounded with Tikwali’tsi, q. v.). 2. A former settlement on a branch of Brasstown creek of Hiwassee river, in Towns county, Ga. The word has lost its meaning.

Tsiskwa’hi

• "Bird place," from tsi’skwa, bird, and hi, locative. Birdtown settlement on the East Cherokee reservation, in Swain county, N.C.

Tsiskwunsdi’adsisti’yi

• "where they killed Little-bird," from Tsiskwunsdi, "little birds" (plural form.) A place near the head of West Buffalo creek, southeast of Robbinsville, in Graham county, N.C.

Tsilalu’hi

• "Sweet-gum place," from tsila’lu’, sweet gum (Liquidambar) and hi, locative. A former settlement on a small branch of Brasstown creek of Hiwassee river, just within the line of Towns county, Ga. The name is incorrectly rendered Gum-log (creek).

Tsistetsi’yi

• "Mouse place," from tsistetsi, mouse, and yi, locative. A former settlement on South Mouse creek, of Hiwassee river, in Bradley county, Tenn. The present town of Cleveland, upon the same creek, is known to the Cherokee under the same name.

Tsistu’yi

• "Rabbit place," from tsistu, rabbit, and yi, locative. 1. Gregory bald, high peak of the Great Smoky range, eastward from Little Tennessee river, on the boundary between Swain county, N.C., and Blount county, Tenn. 2. A former settlement on the north bank of Hiwassee river at the entrance of Chestua creek, in Polk county, Tenn. The name of Choasea creek of Tugaloo river, in Oconee county, S.C., is probably also a corruption from the same word.

Tsiy’hi

• "Otter place," from tsiyu, otter, and yi, locative; variously spelled Cheowa, Cheeowhee, Chewohe, Chewe, etc. 1. A former settlement on a branch of Keowee river, near the present Cheohee, Oconee county, S.C. 2. A former and still existing Cherokee settlement on Cheowa river, about Robbinsville, in Graham county, N.C. 3. A former settlement in Cades Cove, on Cove creek, in Blount county, Tenn.

Tsuda’ye lun’yi

• "Isolated place"; an isolated peak near the head of Cheowa river, northeast of Robbinsville, in Graham county, N.C. The root of the word signifies detached, or isolated, whence Uda’ye lun’yi, the Cherokee outlet, in Ind. Ter.

Tsunda’talesun’yi

• "where pieces fall off," i. e., where the banks are caving in; from adatale’i, "it is falling off," ts, distance prefix, "there," and yi, locative. The Cherokee name for the present site of Memphis, Tenn., overlooking the Mississippi and formerly known as the Chickasaw bluff.

Tsu’dinunti’yi

• "Throwing-down place"; a former settlement on lower Nantahala river, in Macon county, N.C.

Tsukilunnun’yi

• "Where he alighted"; two bald spots on a mountain at the head of a Little Snowbird creek, near Robbinsville, Graham county, N.C.

Tsula’sinun’yi

• "Footprint place." A place on Tuckasee river, about a mile above Deep creek, in Swain county, N.C.

Tsula’wi—see Tsulunwe’i.

Tsul kalu’

• "Slanting-eyes," literally "he has them slanting" (or leaning up against something); the prefix ts makes it a plural form, and the name is understood to refer to the eyes, although the word eye (akta’, plural dikta’) is not a part of it. Cf. Ata—gulkalu’. A mythic giant and ruler of the game. The name has been corrupted to Jutaculla and Tuli-cula. Jutaculla rock and Jutaculla old fields about the head of Tuckasegee river, in Jackson, North Carolina, take their name from him.

Tsulkalu’ tsunegun’yi—see Tsunegun’yi.

Tsulunwe’i (abbreviated Tsulun’we or Tsula’wi, possibly connected with tsulu, kingfisher)

• Chilhowee creek, a north tributary of Little Tennessee river, in Blount county, Tennessee.

Tsundanilti’yi

• "where they demanded the debt from him"; a place on Little Santeetal river, west of Robbinsville, in Graham county, North Carolina. The creek also is commonly known by the same name.

Tsunegun’yi (sometimes called Tsulkalu’ Tsunegun’yi)

• Tennessee Bald, at the extreme head of Tuckasegee river, on the east line of Jackson county, North Carolina. The name seems to mean "there where it is white," from tx, a prefix indicating distance, une’ga, white, and yi, locative.

Tsuniya’tiga

• "Naked People"; literally "They are naked there," from uya’tiga, naked (singular), with the prefix ts, indicating distance. A traditional western tribe.

Tsuta’tsinasun’yi

• "Eddy place." A place on Cheowa river at the mouth of Cochran creek, in Graham county, N.C.

Tsuwa’tel’da

• a contraction of tsuwa’teldun’yi; the name has lost its meaning. Pilot Knob, north from Brevard, in Transylvania county, N.C.

Tsuwa’-uniytsun’yi

• "where the water-dog laughed," from tsuwa’, q. v., "water-dog," uniye’tsu, "they laughed" agiyet’sku, "I am laughing" and yi, locative; Tusquittee Bald, near Hayesville, in Clay county, N.C.

Tuckalechee—see Tikwah’tsi.

Tuckasegee—see Tsiksi’tsi.

Tugaloo—see Dugilu’yi.

Tuksi’tsi—see Tsiksi’tsi.

Turkeytown—see Gun-di’gaduhun’yi.

Turniptown—see U’lunyi.

Tuskegee—see Ta’ski’gi.

Tusquittee Bald—see Tsuwa’-uniyetsun’yi.

Tusquittee creek—see Daskwitun’yi.

Tuti’yi

• "Snowbird place," from tu’ti, snowbird, and yi, locative. Little Snow-bird creek of Cheowa river, in Graham county, N.C.

Tymahse—see Tomassee.

U’dawagun’ta

• "Bald." A bald mountain of the Great Smoky range, in Yancy county, N.C., not far from Mount Mitchell.

Ugun’yi

• Tallulah falls, on the river of that name, northeast from Clarksville, in Habersham county, Ga. The meaning of the name is lost.

Ukte’na-tsuganun’yi

• "where the Uktena got fastened." A spot on Tuckasegee river, about two miles above Bryson City, in Swain county, N.C.

Ukwu’nu (or Ukwu’ni)

• a former Cherokee settlement, commonly known to the whites as Oconee, on Seneca creek, near the present Walhalla, in Oconee county, S.C.

Ultiwa’i

• a former Cherokee settlement above the present Ooltewah, on the creek of the same name, in James county, Tenn.

U’lun’yi

• "Tuber place," from U’li, a variety of edible tuber, and yi, locative. A former settlement upon Turniptown, (for U’lun’yi) creek, above Ellijay, in Gilmer county, Ga.

U’nadanti’yi

• "Place where they conjured," the name of a gap about three miles east of Webster, in Jackson county, N.C., and now transferred to the town itself.

Unaka—see une’ga and Unicoi.

Unicoi

• the map name of the Unicoi turnpike, of a gap on the watershed between Chattahoochee and Hiwassee rive, in Georgia, and of a county in Tennessee. Probably a corruption of une’ga, white whence comes also Unaka, the present map name of a part of the Great Smoky range.

Uniga’yata’ti’yi

• "where the made a fish trap," from uga’yatun’i, fish trap, and yi, locative; a place on Tuckasegee river, at the mouth of Deep creek, near Bryson City, in Swain county, N.C.

Uni’haluna—see Ahalu’na.

Uniya’hitun’yi

• "where they shot it," from tsiy’ihu’, "I shot," and yi, locative. A place on Tuckasegee river a short distance above Bryson City, in Swain county, N.C.

Unta’kiyasti’yi

• "Where they race," from takiya’ta, a race, and yi, locative; locally corrupted to Tahkeyostee. The district on the French Broad river, around Asheville, in Buncombe county, N.C. The town itself is known to the Cherokee as Kasdu’yi, "Ashes place," (from kasdu, ashes, and yi, locative), which is intended as a translation of its proper name.

Un’tiguhi’

• "Pot in water," from unti’ya or unti’, pot, and guli’, "it is in the water" (or other liquid, habitually). The Suck, a dangerous rapid in Tennessee river, at the entrance of Suck creek, about eight miles below Chattanooga, Tenn.

Untlasgasti’yi

• "Where they scratched"; a place at the head of Hyatt’s creek of Valley river, in Cherokee county, N.C.

Unwada-tsu’gilasun’

• "Where the storehouse (unwada’-li) was taken off." Either Black Rock or Jones’ Knob, northeast of Webster, on the east line of Jackson county, N.C.

U’stana’li (from U’stanala’hi or uni’stana’la (a plural form), denoting a natural barrier of rocks (plural) across a stream)

• a name occurring in several places in the old Cherokee country, and variously spelled Eastinaulee, Eastinora, Estanaula, Eustenaree, Istanare, Oostanaula, Oostinawley, Ustenary, etc.

U’tawagun’ta

• "Bald place." A high bald peak in the Great Smoky range on the Tenn.-N.C. line, northeast from Big Pigeon river.

U’tluntun’yi

• "U’tlun’ta place"; see U’tlun’ta. A place on Little Tennessee river, nearly off Citico creek, in Blount county, Tenn.

Utsa’nati’yi

• "Rattlesnake place." Rattlesnake springs, about two miles south from Charlestown, Bradley county, Tenn.

Uwaga’hi (commonly written Ocoee)

• "Apricot place," from uwa’ga, the "apricot vines," or "maypop," (Passiflora incarnata), and hi, locative. A former important settlement on Ocowe river, near its junction with Hiwassee, about the present Benton, in Polk county, Tenn.

Uyahye’

• a high peak in the Great Smoky range, probably on the line between Swain county, N.C., and Sevier county, Tenn.

Uy’gila’gi

• abbreviated from Tsuyu’gila’gi, "where there are dams," i.e., beaver dams; from gu’gilu’unsku’, "he is damming it." 1. A former settlement on Oothcaloga (Ougillogy) creek of Oostanaula river, near the present Calhoun, in Gordon county, Ga.; 2. Beaverdam creek, west of Clarksville, in Habbersham county, Ga.

Valleytown—see Gu’nahitun’yi.

Vengeance creek—see Gansa’ti’yi.

Wa’ginsi

• the name or an eddy at the junction of Little Tennessee and the main Tennessee rivers at Lenoir, in Loudon county, Tenn. The town is now known to the Cherokee by the same name, of which the meaning is lost.

Walasi’yi

• "Frog place." 1. A former settlement, known to the whites as Frogtown, upon the creek of the same name, north of Dahlonega, in Lumpkin county, Ga. 2. Le Conte and Bullhead Mountains in the Great Smoky range on the N.C.-Tenn. line, together with the ridge extending into Sevier county, Tenn., between the Middle and West forks of Little Pigeon river.

Walas’-unulstiyi’

• "Place of the plant," walas’-unul’sti, commonly known to the whites as Fightingtown from a translation of the latter part of a name; a former settlement on Fighting creek, near Morgantown, in Fannin county, Ga.

Wane’-asun’tlunyi

• "Hickory footlog place," from wane’i, hickory, asun-tlun’i (q. v.), footlog, bridge, and yi, locative. A former settlement, known to the whites as Hickory-log, on Etowah river, a short distance above Canton, in Cherokee county, Ga.

Wata’gi (commonly written Watauga, also Wataga, Wattoogee, Whatoga, etc.)

• a name occurring in two or more towns in the old Cherokee country; one was an important settlement on Watauga creek of Little Tennessee river, a few miles below Franklin, in Macon county, N.C.; another was traditionally located at Watauga Old Fields, about the present Elizabethton on Wateuga river, in Carter county, Tenn. The meaning is lost.

Wa’ya’hi

• "Wolf place," i. e., place of the Wolf clan; the form Ani’Wa’’ya’hi is not used. Wolftown settlement on upper Soco Creek, on the East Cherokee reservation, in Jackson county, N.C.

Way Gap—see A’tahi’ta.

Wayeh—see Wayi.

Wayi

• "Pigeon"; the modern Cherokee name for Big Pigeon river, in western N.C.; probably a translation of the English name. It appears also as Wayeh.

Willstown

• a former important settlement, so-called from the half-breed chief known to the whites as Red-headed Will, on Will’s creek below Fort Payne, in Dekalb county, Ala. The settlement was frequently called from him Wili’yi, "Will’s place," but this was not the proper local name.

Wolftown—see Wa’ya’hi.

Yahula’li

• "Yahu’la place," from Yuhu’la, a Cherokee trader siad to have been taken by the spirit people; Yahu’la, seems to be from the Creek yoho’lo, a name having reference to the song (yoholo), used in the "black drink" ceremony of the Creeks; thus a’si-yoho’lo, corrupted into Osceola, signified "the black drink song"; it may, however, be a true Cherokee word, yahu’lu or yahu’li, the name for a variety of hickory, also for the "doodle-bug"; Unyahu’la is a feminine name, but cannot be translated. Yahoola creek, near Dahlonega, in Lumpkin county, Ga.

Yala’gi

• Alarka creek of Little Tennessee river, above the junction of Tuckasegee, in Swain county, N.C.; the meaning of the name is lost.

Ya’nu-dinehun’yi

• "where the bears live," from yanu, bear, dinehu’, "they dwell" (e’hu, "I dwell, I live") and yi, locative. A place on Oconaluftee river, a short distance above the junction with Tuckasegee, in Swain county, N.C.

Ya’nu-u’natawasti’yi

• "where the bears wash," (from yanu, bear, and yi, locative); a former pond in the Great Smoky Mountians, about the head of Raven Fork, in Swain county, N.C.

Yawa’i

• "Yawa place"; a place on Yellow creek of Cheowa river, in Graham county, N.C.

Yellow-Hill—see Elawa’diyi.

Ytaua, Ytava—see I’tawa’.

Yuha’li

• Euharlee creek, of lower Etowah river, in Bartow county, Ga. The name is said by the Cherokee to be a corruption of Yufala (Eufaula), a well known Creek local name.

Yunsa’i

• "Buffalo place"; West Buffalo creek of Cheowa river in Graham county, N. C.; the site of a former Cherokee settlement.

Yun’wi-tsulenun’yi

• "where man stood," originally yun’wi-dikatagun’yi, "where the man stands," from Yun’wi, person, man, tsita’ga, "I am standing," and yi, locative; Standing Indian, a high bald mountain at the head of Nantahala river, in Macon county, N.C.