The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1856-02-28

y OAua HHiSsA - eiiS IA S''"s SA1' f'J
might snap them up and kill them, resei-
siug !. part of he flesh for his own use,
tIbut graciously restoring the inferior parts
Ito their original owner. Any damage
deac by the sheep was however, fairly
iapmaised, and the Cagot paid no more
fer It than any other man would have
Idone
Did Cagot leave his poor cabin. and
venture into the towas, even to render
fseryices required OF him in the way of his
aslrsle, he was hidden by ailthe municipal
laws to stand by and remember his rude
state. In all the towns and villages in the
Large districts extending OH both sides of
1.-The Pyrenees-in all that part ol. Spain
/ they were forbidden to buy or sell any
/ thiag eatable, to in the middle (esteemed
the better) part of the streets, to come
wsthin the gates before sunrise, or to be
found after sun set within the walls Of the
town. But still, as the Cagots We're good
looking men, and were not easily distin
guished by casual p4ssers-by from other
men. they were compelled TO wear some
distinctive peculiarly which should arrest
the eye; and in the greater number OF
towns it was decreed that the outward
sin Of Cagot should be a peace OF red
ic,oth sewed conspicuously on the front Of
his dress. In otl,er towns the mark OF
/ The Cagoterie was the loot of a duck or a
goose hung ever the left shoulder, so as
70 be seen by any one meeting them
| After time, the more convenient badge
OF a piece Of yellow cloth, cutin the shape
ola ducks foot, was adopted. If any
Cagot WAS found in any town or village
without his badge, he had 70 pay a tinr OF
8 suus and lose bis dress He was ex-
pected to shrink away from any passers
by, for fear that their clothes touched each
other; or else to stand still ia some corner
or By place. If they were thirsty dur
Iing the day. which they passed in these
towns where their presence was barely
suffered, they had no means of quenching
their thirst, for they were forbid den 10 en-
ter in'o the cabarels or taverns Even
the water gushing out Of the common
fountain was prohibited to them. Far
away, in their own squalid village. there
was the Cagot fountain, and to drink of
any other water, was forbidden to the
Cagoterie, A Cagot woman having to
make purchases in the town, was fable to
be flogged out if she went to buy any
thing except on Monday day on which
all other people, who could kept their
houses for fear ofcoming in contact with
the accursed race.
In the Pays Basque, the prejudices,
and for some time the laws-ran stronger
than any other have hitherto mentioned
against the Cagots. The Basque Cagot
was not allowed to possess sheep. He
might keep pig for provision, but his pig
had no rightof pasturage. He might cut
and carry grass fer the ass, the only 9TH
er animal he was permitted, because its
existence was rather an advantage to the
ioppressof, who constantly availed them
selves of the Cagot's mechanical skill, and
were glad to have him and his tools easily
conveyed from one place to another.
They were rtpulsed by the State
Under thessmall local governments they
could hold no post whatsoever. And they
were barely tolerated by the Church, al
tho they were good catholics, and zeal
Gus frequenters Of the mass. They might
only enter the churches by a small door
set apart for them. through which no one
of the pure race ever passed. Thi, door
was low, SO as TO compel Il EN- TO make
an obeisance 1t was oc asiodaliy sur
rounded by sculpture, which invariably
repres nted an oak branch with a dove
above if-when they were once in, they
might not soto the. holy waer used By
others. They had a beniiier of their own;
nor were they allowed to share in the CON
secrated breal when that was handed
down to the believers of the pure race
The Cagots stood afar off,.near the door.
| Thereswere certain oundaries-imagin-
AIRY lines--on the nave and in the aIslcs,
which they might not PISS. In one or
1.-TWO Of the more tolerant of the P,renean
villages, the blessed bread was offered to
the Cagots. the p lest standing on one
side Of the boundary. and giving the pie
ccs Of bread on a long wooden fork to each
person successiv'lg lg.
They Were forbidden to intermarry
with the pure races, and were not admit
ted to any Offices in church or State.--
There was nothing Disgusting in The out
ward appearance OF the people, and it is
difficult TO account for the origin of the
repugnance in which they were held.---
Some think that they were descended
from lepers, others that they decended
from the Arian Goths. who were permit
ted by King Clovis to live in Guienne and
Languedo on abiuring their heresy and