Cherokee 
  Native American Lore
 
 
 

In the beginning of the world, there was no fire. The animal people were
often cold. Only the Thunders, who lived in the world beyond the sky arch,
had fire. At last they sent Lightning down to an island. Lightning put fire
into the bottom of a hollow sycamore tree. 

The animal people knew that the fire was there, because
they could see smoke rising from the top of the tree. But
they could not get to it on account of the water. So they
held a council to decide what to do. 

Everyone that could fly or could swim was eager to go after the fire. Raven
said, "Let me go. I am large and strong."

At that time Raven was white. He flew high and far across the water and
reached the top of the sycamore tree. While he sat there wondering what
to do, the heat scorched all his feathers black. The frightened Raven flew
home without the fire, and his feathers have been black ever since. 

Then the council sent Screech Owl. He flew to the island. But while he was
looking down into the hollow tree, a blast of hot air came up and nearly
burned out his eyes. He flew home and to this day, Screech Owl's eyes are
red. 

Then Hooting Owl and Horned Owl were sent to the island together. But
the smoke nearly blinded them, and the ashes carried up by the wind made
white rings about their eyes. They had to come home, and were never able
to get rid of the white rings. 

Then Little Snake swam across to the island, crawled through the grass to
the tree, and entered it through a small hole at the bottom. But the smoke
and the heat were too much for him, too. He escaped alive, but his body
had been scorched black. And it was so twisted that he doubled on his
track as if always trying to escape from a small space. 

Big Snake, the climber, offered to go for fire, but he fell
into the burning stump and became as black as Little
Snake. He has been the great blacksnake ever since. 

At last Water Spider said that she would go. Water Spider has black
downy hair and red stripes on her body. She could run on top of water
and she could dive to the bottom. She would have no trouble in getting to
the island. 

"But you are so little, how will you carry enough fire?" the council asked. 

"I'll manage all right," answered Water Spider. "I can
spin a web." so she spun a thread from her body and wove
it into a little bowl and fastened the little bowl on her back.
Then she crossed over to the island and through the grass.
She put one little coal of fire into her bowl and brought it
across to the people. 

Every since, we have had fire. And the Water Spider still has her little bowl on her back.