Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1893-09-07
CORN. ToeACCo AND BEANS.
Legend Told by Iowa Indians Regarding
tho Origin of tho Three.


tho Origin of tho Three.
Among tho many curious myths
and traditions of the Saulxee and
Musquakoe Indians of Iowa none are
more singular than the combination
legend which relates the story Of the
origin OF corn, tobacco and beans.
The story, as told Colonel Davenport
(the founder of the city of the same
nancy by the head chief of the allied
tribes and reproduced 10y the ST. Louis
Republic, Is as follows: In n time
many moons past the Indian ate only
meat and roots, Two mighty hunters
were one day sitting by fire ON the
great prairies roasting their meat
(venison), when they were greatly
astonished to see beautiful squaw
descend from many-tinted evening
cloud which was hanging over tho
west aud alight upon the smooth
sward near by. The first idea that
struck the hunters was that she was
one ol their ancestors who had taken
upon hers elf the task of acting as
guardian angel, and that II she had
made the trip from the "happy hunts
ing grounds, as they verify believed
she had, she must be hungry, tired
and cold. She did not attempt to
approach the fire, however, and said
nothing until she had been approached
by one OF the hunters, who proifered
her good-si2od slice of the stoaming
vonsion Before accepting the food
she sat down upon the ground with
out moving her feet from the spot
whore they had first come in con
tact with the earth While In the
act of seating herself the hunter
noticed that both hands fell help
lessly at her sidos, making great
indontations In tho soft earth. As
soon as she recovered from what
appeared to he II lainting 1T, result
ing from oVcrfatipuo, she most graci-
ously accepted the food ate Of it, and
almost Immediately started upon her
!, turn trip 10 the clouds not. how
over, until tho had promised TO 70.
ward the hunters for their kindness
Preparatory to her loavo-taking she
\
they would return TO that very spot
IN one year they would find thoir re-.
ward in waiting. Upon returning 20
camp the hunters related the story
of their wonderful adventure with
"The Woman Of the Clouds and told
Of the promised reward all Of which
was accepted with taunts and jccrs
During the following year they were
laughed at 80 often whenever refer
cnce was made 60 the 'roward" or
"lhe Woman of the Clouds" they
were all but deferred from making
n journey In search # n fullillmcnt
Of the promise. Finally, in order not
to he subjects Of ridiculo for the
whole village, they pretended to mako
n hunting excursion in another drec-
ton, and then made n detour by way
OF the spot where they had met the
vision of the skies wonderful sur,
prise was IN waiting The spot
where the spoctor sat while eating
the roast vcnison was overgrown
with tobacco; where her right hand
had rested when IL fell seemingly
helpless 10 the ground corn had
sprung up in all proftsion, and in
the indentation made by the left hand
upon the same occasion beans had
grown and were then hanging In u
multitude Of brown and golden clus.
ters. Who're the feet Of "Thc Woman
of the Clouds first touched when she
alighted before the astonishcd hunters
u year previous two springs Of water
were gushing forth--one, cold and
sparkling, watered the Indian Eden
the Their, which flowed in an oppo.
site direction to the first, was OF u
turbid character, but sufficiently hot
to cook corn and beans. IL Is need.
less TO add that the two hunte.s ha6
Il Thanksgiving then and there, and
that there was great JOY among all
the tribes when the news Of the new
discovery spread over the country.