10 



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

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

 ing 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 is 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 imparted, which promised him the final victory. On the 

 third day his celestial visitor spoke to him. i 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 as you have thrown me 

 down, strip off my clothes, and bury me on 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 grow- 

 ing. Once or twice cover me with fresh earth.' He then 

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

 dicted, was thrown down. The young man punctually 

 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 grati- 

 fied by beholding the matured plant, bending with its 

 golden 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, re- 

 plied his father; 'it is the Spirit's grain/ They immedi- 

 ately prepared a feast, and invited their friends to partake 

 of it, and this is the origin of Indian corn. 77 



In 1621 the Indian chiefs Samoset and Squauto visited 

 the Pilgrims at Plymouth, and instructed them how corn 



