The Delta independent., 1893-09-13
CORN. TOBACCO AND BEANS,
Legend Told by Iowa Indians Regarding
the Origin Of tho Three.


the Origin Of tho Three.
Among the many curious myths
and traditions of the Saukee and
Musquakee 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 by the St Louis
Republic, is as follows: In q 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 sauaw
descend from many-tinted evening
cloud which was hanging over the
west and alight upon the smooth
sward near by. The first idea that
struck the hunters was that she was
one OF their ancest rs who had taken
upon her elf the task of acting as
guardian angel, and that if 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 proffered
her good-siZed slice of the steaming
vension. Before accepting the food
she sat down upon the ground W TIL
out moving her feet from the spot.
where 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 sides, making great
indentations in the soft earth. As
soon as she recovered from what
appeared to be fainting fit, result
ing from overfatigue, she most graci-
ously accepted the food. ate of it. and
almost Immediately started upon her
return trip to the clouds-not, how
ever, until she had promised to re-
ward the hunters for their ndness.
Preparatory to her leave taking she
informed her generous friends that il
they would return to that very spot
in one year they would find their re-
ward in waiting. Upon returning to
camp the hunters related the story
of their wonderful adventure with
1.-The Woman of the Clouds and told
of the promised reward-all of which
was accepted with taynts and jeers.
During the following year they were
laughed at so often whenever refer
ence was made to the .rewardn or
he Woman OF the Clouds" they
were all but deferred from making
a journey in search Of a fulfillment
OF the promise. Finally. in order not
to be subjects of ridicule for the
whole village, they preten led to make
hunting excursion in another direc-
tion, and then made detour by way
of the spot where they had met the
vision of the skies. A wonderful sur
prise was IN waiting The spot
where the specter sat while eating
the roast venison was overprown
with tobacco; where her right hand
had rested when it fell seemingly
helpless to the ground corn had
sprung up in all profusion, 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 The Woman
of the Clouds" first touched when she
alighted before the astonished hunters
year previous two springs of water
were gushing forth-one, cold and
sparkling, watered the Indian Eden;
the ether, which flowed in an oppo-
site direction to the first, was of a
turbid character, but sufficiently Aot
to cook corn and beans. 1t is need
less to add that the two hunte..s had
a thanksgiving then and there. and
that there was great joy among all
the tribes when the news of the new