Connecticut western news., 1878-02-14
A SINGULAR RACE.
The Saugers of West .virginia.--WhO and
 What They Are.

What They Are.
 Having business away up in West Virginia some months ago, was warned to look out for 8 singular race of beings called ''Saugers. They are found among the mountains in sparsely settled tracts, and are certainly great curiosities. I had heard of them when boy living in the Roanoke district, but supposed their existence purely problematical. They were represented as race of Tom Thumbs, and many nursery stories were told concerning them. Plantation hands said that they had seen them lurking in the spurs of the Alleghenies and the Blue Ridge. Their achievements were said to rival those of Beanstalk Jack, and my young blood was curdled by tales of their cruelty. Darling infants were broiled at the1r feasts, and the bodies shared with enormous eagles that hov- cred above them and awaited division of the spells. They were described as chunky little rascaIs who lived in crevices of the rocks, fed on roots, berries and babies, and roamed over the mountains like foxes and weasels.
 During my journey I kept bright lookout for ''Saugers, and found the genuine tribe in Nicholas, Pendleton, Greenbriar and Webster counties. There are scattering communities in other parts of the State, but ID these four counties they seem to attain absolute perfection. They live on wooded slopes or in noun tain gorges, miles from post roads and township settlements. They keep en- tirely to themselves, and physically and mentally are far above the Digger In- dians. They earn livelihood by digging and selling the ginseng root, which grows wild in all parts of the country, and is superabundant in the mountain fastnesses. This root is bought by coun- try storekeepers, forwarded to Cincin- natl and other cities, and shipped to China, where it commands 8 high price.
 The origin of the "Sauger" is un- known. He existed long before the war, and his ranks were largely recruited from the deserters and camp followers of the Confederate army. Many of these re- cruits came from North Carolina regi- 1Aents, and the cross between the real "Tar-Heel and native "Sauger" has produced breed unique in texture and of extraordinary mental pabulum. Their fecundity is remarkable. In some com munities marriage IS unknown. Polyga- my, however, is not allowed. The chil- dren begin to care for themselves, at an early age, and are never sent to school Lawyers are tabooed. The people live by themselves, and are law unto them selves. They make no wills, and have no disputes over the property of dead men. But few of them vote, and they have never heard of Reform or the Con stitution. They are shy of strangers, and, like cartridges, shrink from public gaze. Rarely do they approach settle ment. Those who do so enter it with 8 stealthy tread, as though fearing an am bush. Now and then one or two come into some country store with 8 packload of ginseng roots, and exchange it for whisky, salt, sugar, and occasionally for powder and shot. With the exception of Q little bacon and corn meal, they buy nothing more. The women drink tea made from sassafras and the roots of the golden rod. They raise their own tobacco, and use corn-cob pipes. All their fresh meat is caught in traps Raccoons, opossums, groundhogs, squir- rels, pinnoted grouse, and similar game never come amiss. In the winter there is plentiful supply of bear meat and venison. During the spring and sum- mer delicious brook trout are in season. But these arc delicacies only. Bacon and corn meal are the main staple. ] hear, however, that they have many edi- ble curiosihes, such as rattlesnakes, owls, eaglets, young crows, and bobcats. They recognized the virtue of horse and mule meat long before the siege of Paris, and say that it is exceedingly wholesome, They look upon @ frog eater with hor. TOT yet am told that fried grasshoppert are not despised by them.
 Persons living in the mountainous regions of West Virginia detecta "Sau
 ger at glance. The specimens seer by me were as tough as knots and as ac tive as cats. They had starved, stuntet appearance, and were clad, or half clad
 in grotesque rags. I rode ten miles o1 horseback over a road from which nt habitation was visible, and two of then kept abreast of me on foot. The hors,
 was fast traveller, but the "Saugers loped along, showing no sign of fatigue
 and I think they could have kept it ul all day. They were strangers, but ha. no fear, for they bore no arms. I an
 told that not one in twenty owns Q gul or pistol. Virginians tell me that the, are very cowardly. and never touch mal unless they can do it at overwhelmin, odds. This may be so, but from what saw of them, should say that they ar prudent and peaceful.
 I cannot call them an agriculture people, for they seem to have an antipa thy to farming and gardening. A fe, attempt to raise a little corn, but twenty nine out of thirty trade ginseng roots fo corn meal, and never touch hoe. The live in log huts, with mud ohimneys One room serves for all purposes. Wit :, roaring fire on the hearth, they pas the coldest winters apparently happy i their squalor and poverty, without thought of the outside world. The sleep upon the floor coveted with woolle . | l-oHr. c-- I