36 MEMOIR ON 



He built a lodge of boughs in a secluded place, and 

 painted his face of a sombre hue. By day he amused 

 himself in walking about, looking at the various shrubs 

 and wild plants, and at night he lay down in his bower, 

 which, being open, he coufd look up into the sky. He 

 sought a gift from the Master of Life, and he hoped 

 it would be something to benefit his race. On the third 

 day he became too weak to leave the lodge, and as he lay 

 gazing upwards he saw a spirit come down in the shape 

 of a beautiful young man, dressed in green, and having 

 green plumes on his head, who told him to arise and 

 wrestle with him, as this ws the only way in which he 

 could obtain his wishes. He did so, and found his 

 strength renewed by the effort. This visit and the 

 trial of wrestling were repeated for four days, the youth 

 feeling at each trial, that, although his bodily strength 

 declined, a moral and supernatural energy was im- 

 parted, which promised him the final victory. On the 

 third day his celestial visitor spoke to him. " " To- 

 morrow," said he, " will be the seventh day of your fast, 

 and the last time I shall wrestle with you. You will 

 triumph over me, and gain your wishes. As soon 1 as 

 you have thrown me down, strip off my clothes, and 

 bury me in the spot, in soft fresh earth. When you 

 have done this, leave me, but come occasionally to 

 visit the place, to keep the weeds from growing. 

 Once or twice cover me with fresh earth." He then 

 departed, but returned the next day, and, as he had 

 predicted, was thrown down. The young man punc- 

 tually obeyed his instructions, in every particular, and 

 soon had the pleasure of seeing the green plumes of his 

 sky visitor, shooting up through the ground. He 

 carefully weeded the earth, and kept it fresh and* soft, 

 and in due time was gratified by beholding the matured 

 plant, bending with its yellow fruit, and gracefully 

 waving its green leaves and yellow tassels in the wind. 

 He then invited his parents to the spot, to behold the 

 new plant. " It is mondamin," replied his father "it 

 is the spirit's grain." They immediately prepared a 

 feast, and invited their friends to partake of it, and 

 this is th origin of fndiin corn 



