White settlers in Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina pushed Cherokee tribes into North Alabama, and the Cherokee in turn encroached upon Creek territory, leading to sporadic battles between the tribes. Black Creek Falls had long been a trading station and ceremonial ground. According to legend, Noccalula, the beautiful daughter of a Cherokee chief, was promised by her father to a Creek sub-chief in exchange for peace between the nations, but because she loved a brave of her own tribe and could not bear to become the wife of a Creek warrior, she jumped to her death on the rocks of Black Creek Falls on her wedding day. The falls later became known as Noccalula Falls. Indian sign language inscribed on rocks in the Noccalula Falls area is said to confirm that she jumped to her death near that location. It is definitely known that Line Creek and Big Wills Creek to the Coosa River in Etowah County, and from there as far east as a man could walk in a day, formed the boundary between the Creek and Cherokee nations when white men first came into the territory. The name Etowah, along with most streams and many existing community names, came from the Indians, and land plats in parts of the county are described on both sides of Big Wills Creek to this boundary line, with irregular property lines that meander along the banks of the streams.