TRAIL OF THE
SNAWFUS
The following description is borrowed from Kickle Snifters and Other Fearsome Critters (1976), by Alvin Schwartz: “A snawfus is a white deer with giant antlers from which flowers grow.”1 Okay, there you go. Sums it up. Happy? Satisfied? No?... I was hoping it would not come to this.
You see, the snawfus (Cervoalborum floraplenus) is one of those curious Ozark critters that folklorist Vance Randolph was ever so fond of. Randolph was in the right place at the right time. He was willing and able to collect stories from old-timers still around to remember. It has been nearly seventy years since Randolph penned We Always Lie to Strangers, a must-read that imparted a wealth of folklore into the permanent record. It is a master work from which Schwartz’s concise definition is drawn. Alas, much like our dear ol’ friend the Jimplecute, there is scant recollection of the snawfus apart from the details left by Randolph. Moreover, there is even less to found of the snawfus than that of the jimplecute. And, believe you me, there is next to nothing to find on the jimplecute.
How then does one proceed to follow the trail of something that has long since vanished? Even in Randolph’s day, there were plenty who had never even heard of the snawfus, let alone sat down to write about it. It does not take much searching to conclude that much of the oral tradition, surrounding the snawfus, parted with its original storytellers. Still, there is always a silver lining (pun later intended). Often times, we look at a story as a singular account stemming from one source. However, it is not uncommon for a story to be woven together from wholly separate tales. In other words, what is anything but the sum of its parts? So to gain a fresh perspective on the snawfus, one need approach the story from its various aspects.
In We Always Lie to Strangers, Randolph elaborates that the snawfus is a creature with “supernatural powers” and can emanated rings of blue smoke. This element is an allusion to the haze which often develops near and around mountain tops. Additionally, Randolph adds that the snawfus is capable of leaping, nearly flying, over the tops of trees and likens its cry to a “hallyloo!”2
Now, a point of interest is the notion of a white deer of supernatural power, as such is not an uncommon theme. In American folklore, white deer often appear in stories concerning the madstone. The madstone is said to cleanse one of rabies and purify the blood of snake venom. This miracle cure is legend only to be found among the stomach contents of a white deer.
On the other hand, once one locates a white deer, the problem becomes how does one go about slaying it? The presumptuous would assume the conventional riffle or arrow should prove sufficient but oh no. For legend tells a very different tale. Myths that speak on such methods are to found in associated with those of Virginia Dare. For the unacquainted, Virginia Dare was the first child of English linage born within the American colonies. Virginia Dare was born on August 18, 1587 but vanished altogether with the yet unexplained disappearance of the Lost Roanoke Colony, a story for another time. But, where facts end legend so often begins. And, the legend of Virginia Dare is one that persists long after her visage vanished from the scene.
Tales are told that Virginia Dare not only survived the demise of Roanoke but grew into a beautiful young woman somewhere deep in the wilderness. Adopted by a local native tribe, Virginia Dare and the remaining colonists not only survived but learned to adapt to their new surroundings. Naturally, it came to pass that Virginia Dare, herself, would be coveted by a number of male suitors. Until one day, Virginia Dare, like Roanoke before her, vanished. Stranger still, was the appearance of a heard of deer lead by a single white doe. The particular animal became the choice target of many daring hunters, all of whom could not come close to securing this rare prize.
Time went on, and the white doe continued to elude the most skilled among trappers. However, one early morning, a learned elder was induce to admit that the white doe could only be slain by a silver arrow. Afterwards, a young hunter boldly took up the trail of the curious creature. Securing these tools and, upon sighting the white doe, the hunter took aim. Firing the projectile straight through the heart of the noble animal, the hunter watched as the creature lost its footing. However, upon inspection of where the animal had fallen, the hunter found only the body of Virginia Dare. It was later revealed that the maiden had been transformed into the doe after rejecting the hand of a sorcerer, or so the story goes.
Concerning the white doe story there are some major deviations. In certain tellings, it is a silver bullet rather than an arrow what is used. However, I am familiar with one account wherein a stone is used after the silver bullet fails to make a mark. Another deviation occurs in the form of an alternate ending. Rather than Virginia Dare’s body, the white doe is found intact excepting for the name “Virginia Dare” imprinted on its head. As well, the white doe has the power of speech and relates its tragic circumstances before taking its final breath. Both deviations are common, the one I have chosen to relate is merely my own take drawn from personal preferences. Readers, of course, are left to their own liking.
Far intriguing still are separate stories that have it that the act of killing a white deer is a subject of taboo and such is rumored to bring grave misfortune to all involved. Stories often speak of entire hunting parties rumored to die under varying circumstances shortly after the animal is slain. Curiously, this would make obtaining a madstone of little use, as its bearer would be undone by some other end yet more cruel. Ironically, one could just save time by accepting death by rabies or venom. So it would seem, the entire pursuit is a wholly pointless exercise in futility.
So, what have we learned? Oh, about the snawfus—absolutely nothing. But, one does gain a valuable lesson on the uniqueness of storytellers. They are all great minds, but don’t bet on them thinking alike! Imagination is very personal by nature, and, evidently, those of days gone by didn’t lose much sleep trying to keep their stories in line with their fellows. For example, a ghost may not be able to cross water in one story and leap rivers in the next, all depending on the whim of the storyteller.
But, to get back to the snawfus, how does it all connect? Well, since you asked... it doesn’t really. Still, on second thought, then again, maybe, it all is connected. Even still, perhaps not. Confusing? You bet ya! Gee, isn’t folklore fun folks?
So, let’s start with what we know from the madstone, Virginia Dare and taboo stories. Unquestionably, all contain a white deer, and all contain supernatural properties of said deer. Both attributes are in keeping with the snawfus as described by Randolph. Then, what about the ill-omen what comes from killing a white deer? How would this connect with the snawfus? Well, it would not. Of course, that is unless I left something out from Randolph, which I did. So Randolph relates, “If a man should see a snawfus, it’s a sign that he ain’t long for this world.” And, as a bonus, not only does this relate to the taboo of killing a white deer but the association with death can be traced back to the old legend of Virginia Dare, herself. Moreover, a certain author, Sallie Southall Cotten, in 1901, embellished the legend of Virginia Dare into a full-length epic poem. Within the preface of Cotten's work, the author does offer some interesting bits of information. It is as Cotton elaborates:
“The tradition of a white doe and a silver arrow has survived through three centuries, and not only lingers where the events occurred, but some portions of it are found wherever in our land forests abound and deer abide. From Maine to Florida lumbermen are everywhere familiar with an old superstition that to see a white doe is an evil omen. In some localities lumbermen will quit work if a white deer is seen. That such a creature as a white deer really exists is demonstrated by their capture and exhibition in menageries, and to-day the rude hunters of the Allegheny Mountains believe that only a silver arrow will kill a white deer.”
I am reminded of a good story, one from the Paul Bunyan saga. It goes that Paul was an expert tracker and in finding that the footpath of a deer had ended he was not to be discouraged. The “peavey prince,” having a good spell before his return to camp, did elect to follow the path counterwise. And, not only did he follow in every step, Paul made it right back to the very spot the deer had been born.
As it is with the Snawfus, as it was with Bunyan, sometimes, when the trail grows cold, it is far better to follow it backwards to somewhere rather than onward to nowhere.
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2 Sallie Southhall Cotten, The White Dow: The Fate of Virginia Dare; an Indian Legend. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1901. 12. The Internet Archive.