“(e) ‘We have now returned—we who are corn dancers and singers—we who are women.’
“(f) ‘You two cousins,[447] do you now get the bark bowl (for sprouting the seed corn). You two cousins, do you now get the bark bowl.’
“(g) ‘Oh! the berries have ripened. Oh! the berries have ripened—on stalk and stem.’ [[648]]
“(h) ‘I see (in vision) a beautiful Spring season.
“ ‘I see a fine field of growing corn.
“ ‘In the middle of this field of corn there stands a lodge of bark.
“ ‘There I see a profusion of drying poles and racks.
“ ‘Thereon I see fine fat strings of corn hanging.
“ ‘On these fine fat strings of corn I see rich lively seed corn.’
“(i) ‘Now, I am walking along. I am walking along giving thanks to the Life God.’
“These are the essential songs which mankind shall sing.”
123. The Bean Woman[448]
(A FRAGMENT)
In ancient times a people dwelling near a river bank were startled by the sound of singing, which came apparently from downstream. The voice was that of a woman, and tradition says that it was indeed the Bean-Woman who was singing.