The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-20

The Descendants of the People Celebrated
in ssEvangeline."

in ssEvangeline."
New Haven Palladium
Commissioner Harris, of Louisiana showed
me several pieces of homespun cotton goods
which he says were made by the "C1juns"
'Who are theyr / asked The word he re-
piled, is a corruption of Arcadians, and is applied
to the descendants of that people whose settle
ment In Louisiana was immortalized in Long
fellows .Evangeline." 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, be verified
the words of Basil, the blacksmith, as to the
beauty of the country, the fertility Of the soil
and the ease in which they lived They are
almost like the 'lilies of the field in their free
dom from toll. In a little patch around their
houses they cultivate what cotton they need for
their wearing apparel, and such vegetables as
they use
When the spring raius 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
eighteen 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
cause 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 pre-
vent the birds of the air from devouring it. the
"Caiun' 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 sickle, tossing the sheaves as they fall
into his cart This is a 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 are spread out upon
the prairie and the grain is
trampled out by oxen, as it used to be 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
bin. When any is needed for meal the house
wife takes sufficiency, puts it into wooden
handmil of simple construction, rubs off the
hulls in a few minutes, winnows it in a sieve
and soon has it cooking
The commissioner showed on the map place
where for six 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 buyer Of the
'diego" (why so called no one seems to know
appears among them. After week of confer
ence. during which he and they lave had re
peated whiting matches, a bargain is struck for
the seasons crop, one half is paid down in cash
and security gwen for the balance, and then the
"Cajuns" enjoy their dolce far niente, with from
81, 500 to s., 900 in hand for every head of the
family, and as much more secured for the future
Basil, the blacksmith, did not err when he told
Evangeline of the wealth of these teemng low
lands.