Another legend says the Sun-goddess spoke to Sosanoö (the Moon-goddess), who reigned jointly with her over the high plain of heaven, and said, “I have heard that there is a food-possessing goddess in the central country of luxuriant reedy moors (Japan). Go and see.” Descending from heaven, she came to the august abode of the Goddess of Food, and asked for refreshment. The goddess, creating various forms of food, such as boiled rice from the land, fish from the sea, beasts, with coarse and fine hair, from the hills, set them on a banqueting-table before Sosanoö, who, enraged at the manner of the creation of the food, killed her. Reporting the matter in heaven, Amaterasŭ was angry at Sosanoö, and degraded her (the Moon-goddess) from joint rule, and condemned her to appear only at night, while she, the Sun-goddess, slept. Amaterasŭ then sent a messenger the second time to see whether the Food-goddess was really dead. This was found to be the case. Out of the dead body were growing, millet on the forehead; silk-worms and a mulberry-tree on the eyebrows; grass on the eyes; on the belly, rice, barley, and large and small beans; The head finally changed into a cow and horse. The messenger took them all, and presented them to Amaterasŭ. The Sun-goddess rejoiced, and ordained that these should be the food of human beings, setting apart rice as the seed of the watery fields, and the other cereals as the seed of the dry fields. She appointed lords of the villages of heaven, and began for the first time to plant the rice-seeds. In the autumn the drooping ears ripened in luxuriant abundance. She planted the mulberry-trees on the fragrant hills of heaven, and rearing silk-worms, and chewing cocoons in her mouth, spun thread. Thus began the arts of agriculture, silk-worm rearing, and weaving. JAPANESE PROVERBS. Good doctrines need no miracles. The fortune-teller can not tell his own fortune. The doctor does not keep himself well. To give an iron club to a devil is to give riches to a bad man. While the hunter looks afar after birds, they fly up and escape at his feet. The ignorant man is gentle. Every one suffers either from his pride or sinfulness. Even a calamity left alone for three years may turn into a fortune. Birds flock on the thick branches. Heaven does not kill a man. Having inquired seven times, believe the common report. The poet, though he does not go abroad, sees all the renowned places. Don’t trust a pigeon to carry grain. There is no medicine for a fool. If you keep a tiger you will have nothing but trouble. The more words; the less sense. Who steals money is killed; who steals a country is a king. The best thing in traveling is a companion; in the world, kindness. The gods have their seat on the brow of a just man. Proof is better than discussion. The world is just as a person’s heart makes it. If you hate anyone, let him live. Excess of politeness becomes impoliteness. Poverty can not overtake diligence.