Dayunsi (beaver’s grandchild) In North American Indian mythology (Cherokee), the little water beetle that helped form the earth. The earth was a great island floating in a sea of water. It was suspended at each of the four cardinal points by a cord hanging down from the sky vault, which was of solid rock. When all was water, the animals were above, in Galunlati, beyond the arch. But it was very crowded, and there was no more room. They wondered what was below the water. At last Dayunsi offered to go and see what he could learn. He darted in every direction over the surface of the water but could find no firm place to rest. Then he dived to the bottom and came up with some soft mud, which began to grow and spread on every side until it became an island that is now the earth. It was afterward fastened to the sky with four cords.

Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend, Third Edition – Written by Anthony S. Mercatante & James R. Dow– Copyright © 2009 by Anthony S. Mercatante