ccsHiNG] THE ORIGIN OF CORN. 395 



new parts appeared to tlie beholders, showing', through their cover- 

 iugs, many colors, soft hair shrouding them, as if to make precious 

 their beauty. 



Whilst the people still gazed at these, wondering, out from the East- 

 land came Paiyatunia and Tenatsali of the All-colored flowers (God 

 of the Seasons), followed by Kwelele with his flame-potent fire- wand. 

 Paiyatuma touched the plants with the refreshing breath of his flute; 

 Tenatsali with the flesh-renewing breath of his flowers; Kwelele, with 

 the ripening breath of his torch, whereby the new parts were hardened, 

 some to fruitfiilness; others, being too closely touched, burned to the 

 very heat of generative warmth, unfruitful in itself, but fruitful mak- 

 ing! Then, as Paiyatuma waved his flute, lo! following Tenatsali, 

 the maidens and the attendant Kwelele went forth and disappeared 

 in the mist of the morning. As they vanished, Paiyatuma turneil to 

 where, full in the light of the rising sun, stood the seven plants. Lithe 

 and tall stood he there beside them like a tar jonrneyer, and said to tlie 

 awed watchers: 



Lol ye children of mmi ami the Mother, 



Ye Brothers of Seed, 



Elder, younger. 



Behold the xcedplanls of all seeds .' 



The grass-seeds ye jilanted, in secret, 



Were seen of the stars and the regions, 



Are shown in the forms of these tassels ! 



The plumes that ye planted beside them 



Were felt iu the far away spaces. 



Are shown iu the forms of their leaf-hhides! 



But tlie seed that ye see growing from tliem, 



Is the gift of my seven bright maidens, 



The stars of the house of my children ! 



Look well, that ye cherish their persons, 



Nor change ye the gilt of their being, — 



As fertile of flesh for all men 



To the bearing of children for men, — 



Lest ye lose them, to seek them in vain I 



Be ye brothers ye people, and peoi)le ; 



Be ye happy je Priests of the Corn ! 



Lo ! the seed of all seed-plants is born ! 



As the people eagei'ly looked, the mists of the morning were seen 

 to be clearing away, and gone within them, even as his voice, was 

 Paiyatuma! 



"Thanks this day," together said the fathers and their people, as 

 they looked upon the plants before them, then at the stranger peoj^le. 

 "Verily, ye are our elder brothers, and as children and sisters, yea as 

 our very mothers, will Ave cherish thy maidens and the substance of 

 their flesh!" 



"Yea," replied these other Seed people, "eating thereof, ye shall 

 become iu very truth our younger brothers ! For even as the father 

 hath said, these be the ]5roduct of our hands joined with thine iu labor, 



