The Corn Maidens

: Myths And Legends Of California And The Old Southwest

Zuni (New Mexico)



After long ages of wandering, the precious Seed-things rested over the

Middle at Zuni, and men turned their hearts to the cherishing of their

corn and the Corn Maidens instead of warring with strange men.



But there was complaint by the people of the customs followed. Some said

the music was not that of the olden time. Far better was that which of

nights they often heard as hey wandered up and down the river trail.

(6) Wonderful music, as of liquid voices in caverns, or the echo of

women's laughter in water-vases. And the music was timed with a

deep-toned drum from the Mountain of Thunder. Others thought the music

was that of the ghosts of ancient men, but it was far more beautiful

than the music when danced the Corn Maidens. Others said light clouds

rolled upward from the grotto in Thunder Mountain like to the mists that

leave behind them the dew, but lo! even as they faded the bright

garments of the Rainbow women might be seen fluttering, and the broidery

and paintings of these dancers of the mist were more beautiful than the

costumes of the Corn Maidens.



Then the priests of the people said, "It may well be Paiyatuma, the

liquid voices his flute and the flutes of his players."



Now when the time of ripening corn was near, the fathers ordered

preparation for the dance of the Corn Maidens. They sent the two

Master-Priests of the Bow to the grotto at Thunder Mountains, saying.,

"If you behold Paiyatuma, and his maidens, perhaps they will give us the

help of their customs."



Then up the river trail, the priests heard the sound of a drum and

strains of song. It was Paiyatuma and his seven maidens, the Maidens of

the House of Stars, sisters of the Corn Maidens.



The God of Dawn and Music lifted his flute and took his place in the

line of dancers. The drum sounded until the cavern shook as with

thunder. The flutes sang and sighed as the wind in a wooded canon while

still the storm is distant. White mists floated up from the wands of the

Maidens, above which fluttered the butterflies of Summer-land about the

dress of the Rainbows in the strange blue light of the night.



Then Paiyatuma, smiling, said, "Go the way before, telling the fathers

of our custom, and straightway we will follow."



Soon the sound of music was heard, coming from up the river, and soon

the Flute People and singers and maidens of the Flute dance. Up rose the

fathers and all the watching people, greeting the God of Dawn with

outstretched hand and offering of prayer meal. Then the singers took

their places and sounded their drum, flutes, and song of clear waters,

while the Maidens of the Dew danced their Flute dance. Greatly marvelled

the people, when from the wands they bore forth came white clouds, and

fine cool mists descended.



Now when the dance was ended and the Dew Maidens had retired, out came

the beautiful Mothers of Corn. And when the players of the flutes saw

them, they were enamoured of their beauty and gazed upon them so

intently that the Maidens let fall their hair and cast down their eyes.

And jealous and bolder grew the mortal youths, and in the morning dawn,

in rivalry, the dancers sought all too freely the presence of the Corn

Maidens, no longer holding them so precious as in the olden time. And

the matrons, intent on the new dance, heeded naught else. But behold!

The mists increased greatly, surrounding dancers and watchers alike,

until within them, the Maidens of Corn, all in white garments, became

invisible. Then sadly and noiselessly they stole in amongst the people

and laid their corn wands down amongst the trays, and laid their white

broidered garments thereupon, as mothers lay soft kilting over their

babes. Then even as the mists became they, and with the mists drifting,

fled away, to the far south Summer-land.



(6) The mists and the dawn breeze on the river and in the grotto.