Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1885-09-03
THE .CAIuNs.v
fhc Descendants Of the People Celebrated
I'm "Evangeline."


I'm sEvangeiine."
New Haven Palladium
Commissioner Harris, OF Louisiana,
showed me several pieces OF homespun
cotton goods which he says were made
by the "Cajuns." "Who are they?" /
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 Longfoliow's "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, 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
the "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,
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 1t
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 home
satisfied. In July his crop is ready fol
harvesting. For this he uses o sickle,
tossing the sheaves as they fall into his
cart. This is combrous affair o!
wood, even to the wheels and axles
No iron is used in it's construction. The
oxen are not yoked, but the tongue il
made fast to loops fastened to then
horns. The sheaves are spread ou
upon the prairie and the grain il
trampled out by oxen, as it used to b'
when the edict went forth, "Thou shall
not muzzle the OK that treadeth out thu
corn" The grain is swept together
sacked, carted home and emptied int
bin. When any is needed for mea
the housewife takes sufficiency, put
it into wooden handmill of simpl
construction, tubs off the hulls in a few
minutes, winnows it in a sieve, and
soon has it cooking,
The Commissioner showed on the maj
place where, for six miles, the chic
crop of the "Cajuns" is gathered iron
the orange trees. In selling this crol
singular custom prevails. Whel
the trees are blooming buyer of til
"diego" why so called no one seems t.
know appears among them. After
week of conference, during which h
and they have had repeated whittlin
matches, bargain is struck for tn
seasons crop, one half is paid down i
cash and security given for the balance
and then the "Cajuns" enjoy their dole
far niente, with from 81 800 to 81, 900 i
hand for every head of family, an
as much more secured for the future
Basil, the blacksmith, did not err whe
he told Evangeline of the wealth
these teeming lowlands.