Much of the history and folklore of Graham County is deeply rooted among the Cherokee. One in particular are the Little People called “Yundi Tsundi”, which are a race of Spirits who live in rock caves on the mountain side. They are little ones who reach almost to the knees. They are well shaped and handsome, their hair so long it almost touches the ground. They are very helpful, kind-hearted, and great wonder workers. They love music and spend most of their time drumming, singing, and dancing. They have a very gentle nature, but do not like to be disturbed.
Their drums may be heard in lonely places in the mountains, but it is not safe to follow it, for they do not like to be disturbed at home, and they will throw a spell over the stranger so that he is bewildered and loses his way, and even if he does at last get back to the settlement, he is dazed from then on.
Sometimes they come near a house at night and the people inside hear them talking, but people must not go outside, and in the morning they will find the corn has been gathered or the field cleared as if a whole force of men had been at work. If anyone should go out to watch, he would die.
When a hunter finds anything in the woods, such as a knife or trinket, he must say, ‘Little People, I would like to take this” because it may belong to them, and if it does not ask their permission, the Little People will throw stones at him as he goes home.
Some Little People are black, some are white and some are golden like the Cherokee. Sometimes they speak in Cherokee, but at other times, they speak their own Indian language. Some call them “Brownies”.
So when you visit the mountains, if you are out in the woods and you see something, and it is not what you really thought it was, or if you are fishing and you feel something on the end of your line, and you think it is the biggest trout ever, when pulled it in, it is a stick that got tangled on the hook, that is what the Little People are doing. They are playing tricks on you so you will laugh. That is the spirit of Little People, to keep us young in ourhearts.