The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-08-27
The "CaiunR.n

Commissioner Harris, of Louisiana,
| showed several pieces of komespsa
cotton goods which he says were made
| by the ''Caiuns" "WEo are they?''
L asked. The word, he replied, Is q
corruption of Arcadians, and is applied
| to she descendants of those people
whose settlement in Louisiana was ina
mortalized in Longfellow's "Evange-
line" Then, turning to the map. he
showed nae where the s'Cajuns" live,
and gave an account of their hsmes
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 t,le soil and the
ease in which they lived. They arc
almost like the '.lilies of the field" in
their freedom from toll. In little
patch around thcsr houses they Guilt
vate what cotton they need for their
wearing apparel and such vegetables as
they use.
When the spring rains cease they 60
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 eigh-
teen inches deep they prepare to sow
their rice. First they soak their seed
thoroughly then scatter il 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 home
satisfied. In July his crop is ready for
harvesting. For this he uses a 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 tho tongue is made
fast to loops fastened to their horns.
Tho shcaves are spread out upon the
prairie and the grain is trampled 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 a bin.
When any is needed for a meal the
housewife takes a sufficiency, puts it,
into q wooden handmill of simple con-
struction, rubs off the hulls in a few
minutes, winnows it in sieve, and
Soon has it cooking.
The commissioner showed on a map
a 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
a 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
81, 900 in hand for every head of the
family, and as much more secured for
the fnture. Basil. the blacksmith, did
not err when he told EvangeIine of the
wealth of these teeming lowlands-
NeD Haren PGlLadium-