IROQUOIS USES OF MAIZE 39 



Dr Beauchamp adds that they are inseparable even in death " for the 

 beans make a part of Indian corn bread." i 



Mrs Converse relates a very pretty story of the three plant sis-- 

 ters in her Myths and Legends. 2 The writer has heard the same 

 story. The corn, however, is a female and not a pining, singing lover. 

 The corn plant in the old days produced a heavy grain rich in an 

 oil which was most delicious. The Evil Minded spirit, jealous of the 

 good gifts which the Good Minded had given men beings watched 

 his opportunity to capture the spirit of the corn. Detaining the spirit 

 he sent his ^messengers to blight the fields. The sun sent a ray of 

 light to liberate the captive spirit but ever since corn has been less 

 productive and required greater care. Morgan also mentions this 

 legend in the League. 3 



There is an allusion to the spirit of the corn plant in the code of 

 Handsome Lake, as follows: 



It was a bright day when I went into the planted field and alone 

 I wandered in the planted field and it was the time of the second 

 hoeing. Suddenly a damsel appeared and threw her arms about my 

 neck and as she clasped me she spoke saying " When you leave this 

 world for the new world above it is our wish to follow you." I looked 

 for the damsel but saw only the long leaves of corn twining round 

 my shoulders. And then I understood that it was the spirit of the 

 corn who had spoken, she the sustainer of life. [See Code of Ga-nio- 

 dai-o, 4 48, fl 2] 



1 Jour. Am. Folk Lore, p. 195. 



2 Converse. Myths and Legends of the Iroquois ; ed. by A. C. Parker. 

 N. Y. State Mus. Bui. 125. 



3 Morgan. League of the Iroquois. Rochester 1854. P- 161. 



Manuscript in N. Y. State Library, trans, by Parker, A. C. and Bluesky, 

 William. 



