the poor Indian (Mon-daw-min legend)

Role: father · First appears: Mon-daw-min; or, the Origin of Indian Corn

In “Mon-daw-min; or, the Origin of Indian Corn,” the poor Indian lives with his wife and children, including his eldest son, Wunzh. One morning, he brings Wunzh some food and tells him he has fasted long enough, but Wunzh asks to continue until sunset.

As summer draws to a close, Wunzh shows his father the corn plant and calls it “the friend of all mankind.” He passes on the stranger’s instructions for preparing and cooking the corn, and the family feasts on the new ears and gives thanks.

Relationship record

Life events

• The poor Indian offered Wunzh food, but Wunzh asked to continue fasting until sunset.(Mon-daw-min; or, the Origin of Indian Corn)
  • With: Wunzh
  • “In the morning the youth's father came with some slight refreshments, saying, “My son, you have fasted long enough.”
• Wunzh showed his father the corn plant and revealed that it was the gift he had fasted for.(Mon-daw-min; or, the Origin of Indian Corn)
  • With: Wunzh
  • “It is my friend,” shouted the lad; “it is the friend of all mankind. It is Mondawmin.”
• Wunzh told his father how to prepare and cook the corn.(Mon-daw-min; or, the Origin of Indian Corn)
  • With: Wunzh
  • “He then communicated to his father the instructions given him by the stranger.”
• The family feasted on the newly grown corn and gave thanks.(Mon-daw-min; or, the Origin of Indian Corn)
  • With: Wunzh
  • “The whole family then united in a feast on the newly-grown ears, expressing gratitude to the Merciful Spirit who gave it.”

Mon-daw-min; or, the Origin of Indian Corn

• child: Wunzh “The same disposition was inherited by his eldest son, who had now arrived at the proper age to undertake the ceremony of the Ke-ig-uish-im-o-win, or fast, to see what kind of a spirit would be his guide and guardian through life. Wunzh, for this was his name, had been an obedient boy from his infancy, and was of a pensive, thoughtful, and mild disposition, so that he was beloved by the whole family.”
• married with his wife (Mon-daw-min legend) “In times past, a poor Indian was living with his wife and children in a beautiful part of the country.”

Also listed in Other Figures — Minor Figures

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Extracted from the original text of The Myth of Hiawatha, and Other Oral Legends. Made with Rho MD.