The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-07-16
The "Ca.juns."

Commissioner Harris, of Louisiana,
showed several pieces of homespun
cotton goods which he says were made
by the 'Cajuns." ''Who are they?'
| asked. The word, he replied. is a
corruption of Arcadians, and is applied
to the descendants of those people
whose settlement in Louisiana was i'm
mortalized in Longfellow's ''Evange-
line. y Then, turning to the map, he
showed me where the "Cajuns" live,
and gave an account of their homes
and their simplicity of life. In plain
words he verified the words of Basil,
the blacksmith, as to the beauty of the
country and fertility of the soil and the
ease in which they lived. They are
almost like the '.lilies of the field in
their freedom from toll. In little
patch around their houses they cult
vate what cotton they need for their
wearing apparel and such vegetables as
they use.
When the spring rains cease they 90
out upon the prairie and examine the
depressions, from one to five acres in
extent, which are then ponds of water,
and il found to be not more than eirh-
teen inches deep they prepare to sow
their rice. First they soak their seed
thoroughly then scatter it broadcast
over the pond from the backs of horses
The weight of the soaked rice causes it
to sink, and they have no further care
for their crop until the harvest time
comes. Should drought prevail in
spring they then scatter the seed upon
the dry ground. To prevent the birds
of the air from devouring it. the
"Cajun" looks out over the prairie
where his herds are, and riding to the
nearest he drives the cattle back and
forth over the seed until it has been
trodden into the soil.
Then putting up the light fence
around his rice plantation he goes homo
satisfied. In July his crop is ready for
harvesting. For this he uses sickle,
tossing the sheaves as they fall into his
cart. This is cumbrous affair of wood,
even to the wheels and axles. No iron
IS used in its construction. The oxen
are not yoked, but the tongue is made
fast to loops fastened TO their horns.
The sheayes are spread out upon the
prairie and the grain is trampIed out
by the oxen, as it used to be when the
edict went forth: Thou shalt not muz-
zle the OK that treadeth out the corn. -
The grain Is swept together, sacked.
carted home, and emptied into bin.
When any is needed for meal the
housewife takes a sufficiency, puts it
into a wooden handmill of simple con-
struction, rubs off the hulls in a few
minutes, winnows it in a sieve, and
soon has it cooking
The commissioner showed on a map
place where, forsix miles, the chief
crop of the "Cajuns" is gathered from
the orange trees. In selling this crop
a singular custom prevails. When the
trees are blooming, a buyer, the
diego" (why so called no one seems
to know appears among them. After
week of conference, during which he
and they have had repeated whiting
matches, a bargain is struck for the
seasons crop, one-half is paid down in
cash and security given for the balance,
and then the ''Cajuns' enjoy their
dolce far niente with from 81, 500 to
| $4,000 in hand for every head of the
family, and as much more secured for
the FIXTURE. Basil. the blacksmith, did
not err when he told Evangeline of the
| wealth of these teeming lowlands. =
| Ael0 HdUen Palladium.