The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-09-03

The Descendants Of thu People Celebrated
fn ssEvsngeline."


New Haven Paladium.l
Commissioner Harris. OF Louisiana,
showed me several pieces of homespun
cotton goods which he says were made
by the "Cajuns." who are they?" 1
asked. The word. he replied, is cor
ruption of Arcadians, and is applied to
the descendants of that people whose
settlement in Louisiana was immortal
lied in Longfollow's "Evangeline. J"
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 black
smith. as to the beauty of the country,
the fertility of the soil, and the ease in
which they lived. They are almost like
tho "lilies of the field" in their freedom
from toll. In little patch around
their houses they cultivate what cotton
they need for their wearing apparel.
and such vegetables as they use.
When the spring rains cease they go
out upon the prairie and examine the
depressions, from one to five acres in
extent. which are then ponds of water,
and If found to be not more than eight
cen 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 ont 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 combrous 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 sheaves are spread out
upon the prairie and the grain is
JIuulplci Oub ny oASu, hS IL uScu W Dc
when the edict went forth, "Thou shalt
not muzzle the OK that treadeth out the
corn" The grain is swept together,
sacked, carted home and emptied into
a bin. When any is needed for meal
the housewife takes sufficiency, puts
it into wooden handmill of simple
construction, iubs Off the hulls in few
minutes, winnows it in a sieve, and
soon has it cooking,
The Commissioner showed on the map
O place where, for six miles, the chief
crop of the "Cajuns" is gathered from
the orange trees. In selling this crop
singular custom prevails. When
the trees are blooming q buyer of the
diego" (why so called no one seems to
know appears among them. After a
week of conference, during which he
and they have had repeated whiting
matches, 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 81, 900 in
hand for every head of family, and
as much more secured for the future.
Basil, the blacksmith, did not err when
he told Evangeline of the wealth of
these teeming lowlands.