The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-10-27
PAYING THE BLOOD TAX.
PEASANTS PAY MONEY FOR MUIR
DERS COMMITTED IN 1875.

A Debt Which the Inhabitants of the
Pyrenees Have ReligiousIy Paid Anpu-
ally for Over Five Centuries-The Cers-
meny Described by a Witness.
The Independent des Basses-Pyrenees
| publishes very interesting description
written by NJ. Alfred Cadier, French
| Protestant clergyman at Pau, Of cere-
monial which be witnessed on the from
tier of France and Spain. This con-
sisted in the payment of blood tax,
| and it appears that there are two or
three places in the Pyrenees where the
custom, founded upon the belief that "a
murder committed by the inhabitants of
a village or canton upon those of an ad-
| joining village or canton must forever
remain burden upon the descendants
Of their descendants" is still observed.
Thus, about the middle of the Four
tenth century, the inhabitants Of the
valley of Lave0an, having massacred the
defenseless residents Of Aspe, were con-
demned by the pope to pay perpetual
tax of thirty soils, which was lsvied upon
twenty-five villages and paid up to the
time of the revolution. In the Thir-
tenth century, if not earlier, a similar
crime was committed between the val
leys of Baretons, in French Navarro, and
Roncal, in Spanish Navarro.
The blood tax which the inhabitants
of the former were ordered by the pope
to discharge is paid still, the ceremony
taking place annually on July Is in the
mountains, about seven hours march
from Osse, at tine pass known as La
Peyre ST. Martin. 1t is thus described
by NJ. Cadier:
a GALA SCENE.
A crowd of people is to be seen max
ing their way TO the rendezvous The
shepherds of the Baretons valley. with
their red waistcoats interspersed with
dark threads, the mayors and delegates
of the villages of Arctic, Lsune, Aramits
and Issor, the foresters of the mountain, |
the custom house officers without their
guns, the clergy, represented Oy the priest /
Of st. Engrace and two curates, and q
few English tourists from Osse helped to |
make up this singular assembly. When |
we reached the narrow stone which |
marks of the frontier, with the name |
st. Martin inscribed upon the two sides |
Of it in French apd Spanish, we found |
ourselves face to face with the Spaniards, |
who formed an imposing group.
First was the alcalde of Issba, who l
was to act the part of lord chief justice. |
He was wearing a black robe, bordered |
with red, and large coIlarette by way |
of bands, while he carried in his hand 1
the wand of justice, in the shape of /
black stick with a silver knob. The al /
caldes of three or four other Spanish vii /
lagos were similarly attired, and they |
were accompanied by numerous suite, /
made up of delegates from the general |
junta of the valley of Roncal, the notary, I
the veterinarian, and others, the escort 4
consisting of seven or eight armed car
rabineros and guards, while IN the rear
were number of ''bourriqueros," who
had come in the hope Of selling the skins
of wine with which their donkeys were
loaded.
1t was about a. m. when the cere-
monial, which has been observed without 1
interruption since 1915, commenced by
the French mayors donning their tri-
color scarf, and by the Spanish alcaldes
advancing toward the frontier stone,
accompanied by herald bearing lance
on which was painted red fame, the
symbol of justice.
THE CEREMONY.
The two parties having halted at a dis
lance of about twenty feet from their
respective frontiers, the herald substi-
tutes for his red fame a white one,
which is the symbol of pacific intentions,
and the alcalde of Isaba exclaims in
Spanish, do you wish for peaceY' To
this the French mayors reply in the af-
6rmative, also speaking in Spanish, and
In order to testify to the sincerity Of
their intentions, their herald lays down
his lance upon the top Of the stone III the
direction Of the frontier, whereupon the
Spanish herald comes and inserts his
lance into the French soil, resting the
shaft against the stone so as to form
cross with the French lance. The mayor
of Arctic then comes and lays his hanc
upon the cross so formed. q Spanish al
calde places his right hand upon that of
the Frenchman and the other mayors
and alcaldes do the same alternately.
Last of all, the alcalde Of Isaba steps
forward, and, lifting his wand of justice
over the pile of hands, pronounces the
oath, which all swear TO keep. After
this oath has been taken the alcalde Of
Isaba exelaims three times, "Paz
daraus" peace in the future) Peace is
thus anew concluded, and to ratify their
having given up all idea Of vengeance
the men of Roncal order the escort to
discharge their guns in the direction Of
France. Then comes the reception Of
the blood tax, which used to consist Of
three perfectly white mares. but owing
to the difficulty Of getting them exactly
alike three white heifers have been sub
stituted for them. The three heifers
presented this year were worth about
twenty-three pounds, which is large
sum for the district, and after the Ron
cal notary had drawn up a process verbal. =
which was signed all around, a repast was
served at the expense Of the Spaniards,
tossts being proposed II honor Of Spain,
France and England, the introduction Of
England being due 20 the presence Of
several English visitors. After the re-
past was over dancing followed, and We !
hen said goodby I'll next year.