The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1909-10-28

49, stage Of sayagery, and without In
WW dian corn the explorers from EG-
rope would certainly have been IN
able. in the conditions under which they were
forced to land upon the western shores. to
effect a permanent settlement on tho Ameri-
can continent
Maize was the only Notwithstanding food
which the Indians could supply to those who
attempted to make a home In New England;
& sustained the adventures who t~raversed the
valleys Of the James. Of the st, Johns and OF
the Mississippi; It provided the spaniards In
Mexico with nourishmsnt during the reckless
march from Vera Cruz 10 the plateau Of Mex
ico. and this same maize was found by Pizar
ro's small army Of conquenors when the sub
iugated the innumerabie hosts Of the Incas
OF Peru.
Yet up TO The time Of the landing Of Co
lumbus In America maize was absolutely IN
known 70 the Inhabitants Of the old world
The few kernels Of the new food bought TO
Queen Isabella BY Columbus were eIassed gen
orally az grains or cereals. The Norsemen,
who landed near Cape Cod In 1902 A. D., found
q grain previously unknown 70 them and this
they called corn" attempting 10 Identify Il
with wheat and other grains 70 which they
were already accustomed. The English Puri-
tans also were astonished on landing to find
q new corn; but as they had At home grouped
al grains under the name they therefore ap-
piled TO II the Same term. definitely distin-
gushing Il from the others by the specific
phrase RI Indian corn
indian corn Is really maize: in English
speaking countries outside OF the United
States It Is called maize and In an Spanish
countries 'mais" Is the word employed; IN
Portuguese milho." and French again mais@
indicate its origin, Maize is altogether an
American word, coming directly from the
primitive ArhNak. the most widely dissemi-
mated Indian stock IN South America. II orig
mated Ia the south with the Guanas. on the
headwatcrs Of the river Paraguay, and an.
braeed tribes on the highlands Of Bolivia. ex.
tendins nnally TO the Goailros peninsula. the
most northern land OF the continent. They
were the arst. therefore. To welcome colum.
bus 10 the bahamas, Cuba and Haiti. Though
the Arawaka were practically IN a state Of
saraEefg. they cultivated maize. The Arawak
word ter maize Is "marisi," and this they had
banded over 10 the Caribh who Inhabited many
81 the West Indian islands II was one Of The
FIRST words Columbus heard, aad through him
1t became general "a Europe. In Guiana and
further south on the Atlantic coast OF South
America "manioe" took the place Of maize
as food
North American Indians had other expires.
sions for their grain The grain itself had
come b them partly through the Caribs, but
chiefly through the tribes OF northern Mexico.
which shows that there we're two channels Of
communication, even In preCOiumbian times.
20 the land on The north Atlantic. Theae
North American Indians seem not 70 have
used the word maize; h had been lost ia
crossing the Gulf Of Mexico. and Whatever
term was employed BY them "a now only .
DhiloloRie curiosity. Neither does the ancient
word 81 the Aztecs. Of the Mayas. the Chib-
chas o. the Incas correspond 10 maize, 50 that
81 seems certain that maize was confined %
that extenaiee race inhablting regions far 70
the east and south 81 the Original home Of
Indian corn.
The spot from which this purely American
grain spread, even before is discovery By
Europeans. 10 the extreme confines Of the
western hamlsphere. has been accurately 10
Gated History. phiiaioEy. ethnoiosy as well
IS tradition have al been facrors in this RESULT
Indefinite claims have been adganeod b. Asia