The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1885-10-15
The s'CejunS.

Commissioner Harris, of Louisiana.
showed several pieces Of homespun
cotton goods which he says were made
by the ''Cajuns." who are theyP'
l asked. The word, he replied. is a
corruption of Arcadians, and is applied
to the descendants of those people
whose settlement in Louisiana was im-
mortai;zed in Longfellow's "Evange-
line. Then. turning to the map, he
showed me where the ''Cajuns" live,
and gave an account OF their homes
ard their simplicity of lie. In plain
words he verified the words of Basil,
the blacksmith, IS to the beauty OF the
country and fertility of the soil and the
ease in which they lived. They are
almost like the "lilics of the field'' in
their freedom from toll. In a little
patch around their houses they culti-
vate 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
depreS:ons. from one to five acres in
extent, which are then ponds of water,
and if found to be not more than eigh-
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 a drought prevail in
spring they then scatter the seed upon
the dry ground. To prevent the birds
of the air from dcvouring it, the
''Cajun" looks out over the prairie
where his herds are, and riding to the
nearest no 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 home
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 sheaves arc spread out upon the
HIdlI1c s-u0 luc SIIiu ID liUupiC Oub
by the oxen, as it used to DO when the
edict went forth: Thou shalt not muz-
zle the OK that treadeth out tho corn"
The grain is swept together. sacked,
carried home, and cmpticd into bin.
When any is needed for meal the
housewife takes u sutiic;ency, puts it
into wooden hand,nili OF simple con-
struction, rubs off the halls in \ few
minutes, winuows it in sieve, and
soon has it cooking.
Tne commissioner showed on a map
a place where. forsix miles, the chief
crop of tho ''Cajuns" is gathered from
the orange trees. In selling this crop
rsinsular custom prevails. When tie
trees are blooming, u buyer, the
diego" (w.,y 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, a bargain is struck for tho
season crop. one-half is paid down in
cash and security given for the balance,
ami then the ''Cajuns'' enjoy their
dolce far picnte with from $1,000 to
8, coo III i.:.:.,i for every head of the
family. ana. IS much more secured for
the tnturc. B;.sI. the blacksmith, did
not err when he :old Evangeline of the
wealth Of these teeming lowlands.-
New Huuc,s EidlsuiLi,inl-