Some early writers, and in later times, Cushman and Bushnell, report that the Choctaws believed in a great good spirit and a great evil spirit. It seems that there were a number of supernatural beings mentioned in historical accounts of Choctaws over the past few hundred years.
Several different terms were applied to the great good spirit, Nanapesa, Ishtahullo-chito, Nanishtahullo-chito, Hushtahli and Uba Pike. The terms lshtahullo or nanishtahullo is applied to anything thought to possess some occult or superior power - such as a witch.
Shilup chitoh osh is a term anglicized to mean The Great Spirit. Chitokaka means The Great One.
Hushtahli is from Hashi, "Sun" and Tahli, "to complete an action".
In addition to the native language for what would today be termed God and Devil, the Choctaws believed they had many other "powerful beings" in their midst.
They believed in a little man, about two feet high, who dwelled alone in the thick, dark woods. The little man was called Bohpoli or Kowi anukasha, both names being used alone or together. The translation of Bohpoli is the "Thrower". The translation of Kowi anuskasha is "The one who stays in the woods", or to give a more concise translation, "Forest Dweller".
The little wood sprite was known to be rather mischievous, but not malicious. The Choctaws believed that he often playfully threw sticks and stones at them. All unexplained sounds heard in the woods were attributed to Bohpoli, believing he took a special pleasure in hitting the pine trees to create noise.
Bohpoli was never seen by the common Choctaws, only the prophets and doctors. The Indian doctors would report that Bohpoli assisted them in the manufacture of their medicines. Some stories even give the account that bohpoli would "steal" little children and take them into the woods, to teach them about herbs and medicines. After returning the children to their homes, Bohpoli would leave them alone, letting them grow up to become doctors of the tribe.
An interesting being mentioned in some of the history writings is Kashehotapalo, a combination of man and deer who delighted in frightening hunters. He was much admired for his speed and agility. If the Choctaws angered Kashehotapalo, he would race ahead of them and warn the enemy or animals being hunted.
Okwa Naholo or Oka Nahullo - white people of the water - dwelled in deep pools and had light skins like the skins of trout. They were believed to sometimes capture human beings whom they converted into beings like themselves.
Hoklonote' she was a bad spirit who could assume any shape he desired, as well as being able to read people's thoughts.
Nalusa Falaya, "The long black being" resembled a man, but with very small eyes and long, pointed ears. He sometimes frightened hunters or transferred his power of doing harm. Some believed that Nalusa Falaya preferred to approach men by sliding on his stomach like a snake.
Hashok Okwa Hui'ga, translated into Grass Water Drop, was believed to have a connection to what is termed will-o'-the-wisp. Only it's heart is visible, and that only at night. If anyone looks at it he is led astray.
Ishkitini, or the horned owl, was believed to prowl about at night killing men and animals. Many believed that when ishkitini screeched, it meant sudden death, such as a murder. If the ofunlo (screech owl) was heard, it was a sign that a child under seven in that family was going to die, because in size, it is a small owl. If opa (a common owl) perched in a barn or on trees near the house and hooted, it foreboded death among the near relatives.
Biskinik, the sapsucker, was known as the newsbird. If he landed on a tree in their yard early in the morning, some "hasty" news would come before noon. If he perched there late at night, the news would come before morning.
Heloha (thunder) and Melatha (lightening) were responsible for the dramatic thunderstorms. In Choctaw mythology, they were two huge birds. Heloha would lay her giant eggs in the clouds and they would rumble as they rolled around atop the clouds. Despite his size, her mate, Melatha, was extremely fast and left a trail of sparks as he streaked across the sky.
Na-lusa-chito was the soul eater. If you allowed evil thoughts or depression to enter your mind, he would creep inside you and eat your soul.
It was also believed that every man had a shilombish, the outside shadow, which always followed him, and shilup, the inside shadow, or ghost, which after death goes to the land of ghosts. The shilombish was supposed to remain upon the earth, and wander restlessly about its former home, often moaning, to frighten its surviving friends, as to make them forsake the spot, and seek another place to live. It was also supposed to assume the form of a fox, or owl; and by barking like the one, and screeching like the other at night, cause great consternation, for the cry was considered ominous of bad things. The Choctaws could tell between the shilombish and animals it imitates. When a fox barks, or an owl screeches, another fox or owl replies. But
when the shilombish imitates the sound of either animal, no response is given.
