IROQUOIS USES OF MAIZE ' 27 



Peter Kalm is the only observer in whose writings the author has 

 found the use of the poison decoction mentioned.^ 



Handsome Lake, the prophet, in his code commanded that these 

 herbs always be used. 



The corn was carefully dropped in the hills so as not to break the 

 germs, which had nearly burst throug'h. Among the Senecas, in 

 planting corn the seeds of the squash and bean were sown in every 

 seventh hill because it was thought that the spirits of these three 

 plants were inseparable. They were called Diohe'^'ko, these sustain 

 us.'^. In the Green Corn Thanksgiving the leader rises and says, 

 " Diettino"'nio' diohe"ko", we give thanks to our sustainers." 



Certain women banded themselves together in a society called the 

 Tofiwisas^ or To"wi'sas Oa''no. They propitiated the spirits of the 

 three sisters by certain ceremonies. In their ceremonial march, We- 

 niintonwi'sas, the leader holding an armful of corn and a cake of 

 corn bread leads her band in a measured march about a kettle of 

 corn soup. The ritual of this society has been translated by the 

 writer. A pen drawing of the march of the Toiiwi'sas made by a 

 Seneca youth is shown in figure 2. 



Each year at planting time each community observed a planting 

 festival in which the Creator was implored to continue his bounty 

 and his accustomed ways. Sacrifices of tobacco and wampum were 

 made to the spirits of growth and to the pygmies, Djo"ga'o", and a 

 general thanksgiving for past blessings was given. Especial favor 

 was asked in the growth of the corn.* 



The Planting Thanksgiving was called by a council of elders in 

 whose charge this festival was placed and lasted for a full day. The 

 addresses to the Creator, however, were all given in the early morn- 



^Ibid. p. 531. 



See fl./.yo Kalm on bird pests. Ibid. p. 523, 527, 531. 



2 The Aztecs called the corn goddess Tonacaygohua, She feeds us. 



She was sometimes called Centeotl. She was also regarded as the god- 

 dess of the earth and was the most beloved deity worshiped by the ancient 

 Mexicans and was the only one that did not require the sacrifice of human 

 victims. It is interesting to note that the Corn goddess was also called 

 Tzinteotl, the original goddess. Her name changed to Xilonen, Iztacac- 

 cuteotl, and Tlatlauhquicenteotl according to the various stages in the 

 growth of the corn. 



3 For a fuller description see American Anthropologist. New Ser. 1909. 

 V. II, no. 2. Parker, A. C. Seneca Medicine Societies. 



■* Clark, J. H. V. Onondaga. Syracuse 1849. i :54. 



