MOTHER-CORN’S VISIT TO THE ARIKARA. 35 
consent of the other gods, by Mother-Corn, who was sent by a god 
in the heavens, who had a field of corn. 
9. MOTHER-CORN’S VISIT TO THE ARIKARA. 
Many, many years ago the Arikara, according to their traditions, 
were journeying west, when they were told by Mother-Corn, who had 
led them out of the ground, that in time they must dress her up and 
put her into the river; and, as they should put her into the river, the 
priest should say, “Mother, make haste and return to us.” For many 
years the Arikara continued to journey west, until at last they made a 
permanent village of earth lodges upon the Missouri River, opposite 
the city of Washburn. 
The old men thought that it was now time to send Mother-Corn 
down the stream. She was to go to the place from whence the Arikara 
originally had come, and if there were rituals and ceremonies or 
medicines that had been left behind, Mother-Corn was taken from the 
bundle and painted. A dress of tanned buffalo hide was wrapped and 
tied about the middle of the Mother-Corn. 
While the painting and dressing of Mother-Corn was going on, 
the crier went through the village, telling the people that Mother-Corn 
was going to leave them for a period of time; and that she was going 
to the place from whence their forefathers had come; and that the 
Arikara people must all bring old moccasins for their little children; 
and that these must be placed with Mother-Corn, so that she might 
carry the old moccasins to the place whence the people had come, so 
that the young ones might grow up in life as the Arikara people had 
grown through their journey, meeting different obstacles, and finally 
settling down into a village; that the children might grow up; that 
although difficulties might beset their daily walks, they might overcome 
them by the power of Mother-Corn, and grow up to be strong men 
and women. 
[Rituals were now recited by Standing-Bull, which were the same 
as those recited when they were painting the chief.] After the reciting 
of the rituals the people took up Mother-Corn and took her down to 
the river. All the people turned out to witness the act. But before 
the priests threw Mother-Corn into the river, her head upstream and 
her feet downstream, the children’s moccasins were tied about her 
waist. The people offered their prayers to Mother-Corn, and after 

*Told by Standing-Bull, 
