No. 151.] 429 



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

 being open, he could look up into the sky. He sought a gift from 

 the Master of Life, and he hoped it would be something lo 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 w^ith him, as 

 this was 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 vic- 

 tory. 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 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 punctually obeyed 

 his instructions in every, particular, and soon had the pleasure of see- 

 ing 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 bend- 

 ing 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 the origin of Indian corn." 



Properties and Uses. 



There is no species of the Cerealia, which manifests itself under 

 such varied forms, sizes, colors, and chemical ingredients, as maize. 

 While some persons have estimated it in value, equal, if not superior 

 to all other kinds of grain, others, on the contrary, have placed it 

 in the lowest station in the group to which it belongs. It has been 

 contended by some, that it contains no gluten, and little if any ready 

 formed saccharine matter, and hence, could possess but a very small 

 nutritive power, while others have observed that domestic animals, 

 which are fed on maize, very speedily become fat, with their flesh at 

 the same time, remarkably firmj that horses which consume it, are 



