Abstract
Among the various primitive peoples of Middle-East India, we can find approximately three types of myths concerning the origin of corn, each of which has its own distribution center. The first is the Chota Nagpur plateau of southern Bihar, which is inhabited by one of the two main groups of the present Austro-asiatic peoples in India, consisting of the Santals, Mundas, Hos, Kharias, Birhors etc.. Here we find such a type of myth in which the Creator has the seed of corn beforehand and gives it to the original human couple. The omniscient and omnipotent Creator has the mythological stage to himself. The second is the southern part of Orissa, especially Koraput Districts, where we find another main group of the Austro-asiatic people, such as the Saoras, Gadabas, Bondos, Parengas etc.. Among these peoples there appears the so-called "personified corn-sisters" as a unique motif, and the Creator does not play any important role, if he does not completely disappear from the mythological stage. The third and the last center is probably in Madhya Pradesh, which is inhabited by the so-called Gond peoples. Here we meet the same "blood motif" as in some of the creation myths, particularly that of the Earth. Corn grows out from the earth covered with human blood, and here too the Creator does not seem to play such a remarkable role as in the first center. From these three centers each type of myth spread out and partially mingled with the others. Evidence of this mixture is most remarkable among such small ethnic groups as the Juangs, Kamars, Baigas etc., which are usually classified as protoagriculturists in India. Hence, in reference to the myth of the origin of corn, we can distinguish firstly the Munda peoples(in the widest sence of the term) from the Gond peoples; secondly within the former, the Chota Nagpur group is to be distinguished from the southern Orissa group and both from the proto-agriculturists, including those who speak Austro-asiatic languages.
