Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1893-09-02
Termination Legend Told by Iowa Ind.
isns Regarding Origin OF the Three.

Among the many curious myths and
traditions OF the Saukee and Musqua-
kee Indians of Iowa none arc more
singular than the combination legend
which relates the story Of the origin
of corn, tobacco and beans. The story,
as told Col. Davenport (the founder OF
the city of the same name) by the
head chief Of the allied tribes and re-
produced by the st. Louis Republic, is
as follows:
In a time many moons past the Ind
ian ate only meat and roots. Two
mighty hunters were day sitting
by n fire on the great prairies roasting
their meat Cvenison), when they were
greatly astonished to sea n beautiful
squaw descend from a many-tinted
evening cloud which was hanging over
the west and alight upon the smooth
sward neal by. The first idea that
struck the hunters was that she was
one of their ancestors who had taken
upon herself the task of acting rs
guardian angel, and that il she had
made the trip from the "happy hunt
ing grounds" rs they verify believed
she had, she must he hungry, tired
and cold. She did not attempt 10 APP
proach the fire, however, and said
nothing until she had been approached
by one of the hunters, who proifered
her q good-sized slice Of the steaming
venison. Before accepting the food
she sat down upon the ground without
moving her feet from the spot where
they had first come in contact with
the earth.
While in the act of seating herself
the hunter noticed that both hands fell
helplessly at her sides, making great
indentatious in the soft earth. As soon
as she recovered from what appeared
to be a fainting fit, resulting from
~overfatigue, she most graciously ac-
copied the food, ate of it, aud almost
Immediately started upon her return
trip to the clouds-not, however. un.
til she had promised TO reward the
hunters for their kindness. Prepare.
tory to her leave-takinS she informed
her generous friends that if they would
return to that very spot in one year
they would find their reward IN wait.
ing. Upon returning to camp the
hunters related the story of their won
derful adventure with "The Lady OF
the Clouds" and told Of the promised
reward-all Of which was accepted
with taunts and jeers.
During the following year they were
laughed at so often whenever refer
ence was made to the reward" or
"The Woman of the Clouds" they were
all but deferred from making o jour-
ney in search OF q fultillment Of the
promise. Finally, in order not TO be
subjects of ridicule for the whole viii
lage, they pretended to make 4 hunt.
ing excursion in another direction. and
then made a detour by way OF the spot
where they had met the vision of the
skies. A wonderful surprise was in
waiting. The spot where the specter
sat while eating the roast venison was
Overgrown with tobacco; where her
right hand had rested when it fell
seemingly helpless to the ground corr
had sprung up in all p~rofusion, and in
the indentation made by the left hand
upon the same occasion beans had
grown and were then hanging in q
multitude of brown and golden clus.
ters. Where the feet Of Tho Woman
of the Clouds" first touched when she
al;Gh.ca bc!oro the asIonished huntera
a year previous two springs of water
were gushing forth-one, cold and
sparkling. watered the Indian Eden:
the other, which flowed in an opposite
direction 10 the first, was Of q turbid
character. but sufficiently hot to cook
corr and beans. IL il needless To add
that the two hunters had "a thanksgiv.
ing then and there, and that there was
great joy among all the tribes when
the news of the new discovery spread
over the country.