CLSHiNG] THE ORIGIN OF CORN. 397 



Auil next is the coin of 

 The dark Lower regions 

 The sixth sister quickened ; 

 Is black like the depth of 

 The earth it emerged from — 

 Made so by the heat-light — 

 Is the soft Kwi-ni-kwa-kwe! 

 Last, as first, is the Mid-most, 

 Quickened first l)y the seventh 

 Of all the Corn maidens ; 

 Bearing grains of each color — 

 Made so by the embers — 

 And seed of them all. 

 Hence, the Tem-'hla-nah-na-k'ya, 

 I-to-pa-nah-na-kwe ! 



Thiis, of the substauce of all flesh is the seed of seeds, Corn ! And 

 suited to all peoples and places; yet we, brothers younger are with ye, 

 favored in the light, in that together we are its priests and keepers. 

 Let us therefore love it and cherish it, as we cherish and love our 

 women; and it shall be the giver of milk to the youthful and of flesh 

 to the aged, as our women folk are the givers of life to our youth and 

 the sustainersof life in our age; for of the mother-milk of the Beloved 

 Maidens it is tilled, and of their flesh the substance. Eating thei-eof, 

 thy youth shall grow strong and handsome, thy maidens beautiful and 

 fruitful, even as are themselves, the Beloved Maidens, our mothers and 

 thine!" 



"Be it well!" said the fathers. "Brothers younger to ye, let us 

 indeed be, and let us, therefore, clasp the warm hands of brothers 

 elder and brothers younger, making the words of the Father of Dawn 

 true, in truth!" 



Then the ancient of the People of the Dew replied: 



It is well, brothers younger! 



Dwell in peace by our firesides. 



Guard the seed of our maidens. 



Each kind as ye see it. 



Apart from the others. 



And by lovingly toiling. 



As by toiling and loving. 



Men win the full favor 



And hearts of their maidens. 



So, from year unto year 



Shall ye win by your watching, 



And power of beseeching, 



And care for the corn-flesh. 



The favor and plenish 



Of our seven Corn maidens. 



They shall dance for the increase 



And strength of the corn-seed. 



Of each grain, making many — 



Each grain that ye nourish 



With new soil and water! 



For long, ere ye found us, 



