New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-18
AN EMPEROR IN PRISON.
JAPAN'S FATHER DANnEN"-TAX OF BLOOD
IN THE PYRENEES.

JAPAN'S FATHER DAMIEN "--lAA Ot bLOOD
IN THE PYRENEES
Paris, October g.
The number of persons of sovereign rank hidden
away from public view in magnificent but mys-
FERROUS imprisonment and which comprises King
Otto of Bavaria, Empress Charlotte of Mexico,
Sultan Murad of Turkey and Khedive lsmail OF
Egypt, has recently received an addition through
the incarceration in an Algerian palace Of the En-
peror of AMMAN. About two years ago he was
deposed from his throne by the French authorities
and exiled to Algiers, where, however, he was
allowed large pension and entire freedom Of oil
restraint, conditional on his making no attempt 10
leave the colony. OF this liberty he availed him
self to the fullest extent. He was present at all
the oficia! and social entertainments arrayed in
the most fautless of European evening dress, ire
quented the principal cafes, restaurants and thea
tres and rode about on bicycle. Moreover, he
has become an expert amateur photographer, and
has also been taking lessons in painting.
Apparently, the French Government has re
oeived information that he has been making plans
for his escape and for his return on board an Eng
lish vessel to his Empire in the Far East. For
suddenly, without the slightest warning, he has
been deprived Of his liberty, and has been con-
veyed under close arrest to Medeah, town In the
interior, where he is in future TO be kept strictly
guarded. The precautions of the French authori-
ties are not altogether surprising For the return
of the young Emperor to AMMAN at this juncture
would prove source Of great embarrassment to
the Paris Government and probably would in
volve an expenditure of much French blood and
treasure.
News has just been received here of the death
near Yokohama of a young Roman Catholic priest
of Japanese birth who was educated at the great
seminary of st. Sulpice in this city. His name
was Father Testevinde and for six years past he
has been known TO fame as the japanese Father
Damien" In 1885. during his missionary labors
in the interior he came across case Of leprosy
which so aroused his feelings that he determined
to give himself up to the task of ameliorating
the condition of those of his countrymen afflicted
with the dreadful malady. At that time there
were no leper hospitals in Japan and the ordinary
hospitals very naturally declined to receive any
patients suffering from the disease. Accordingly
he set to work to provide for the organization OF
establishments of this kind and having succeeded
in awakening public sympathy he collected sur
foient money to build on the lower slopes of the
great Mount Fujiyama leper hospital which IS
now in full working order. Not content with
this, he established two other hospitals Of the
same character one in the north and the other
in the south of Japan, where lcpers receive proper
care and treatment, and are no longer left to
perish alone abandoned by both man and beast
Like Father Damien in Hawaii. Father Testevnde
has become victim to his devotion, and has
persisted of the disease the spread of which in
Japan he has done so much to check and TO arrest.
The tax of blood which constituted so important
feature of the Mosaic law in Biblical times
is still, strange though it may appear, in full
force in certain frontier districts Of the Pyrenees
10 was my good fortune some time ago to witness
the ceremony of payment Of the tax in question
of one canton to the other. 1t occurred near the
frontier town of Ossa, where it has taken place
every year on the 18th of July since the twelfth
century. Its origin dates back to an attack on.
and massacre of the inhabitants Of the Spanish
valley of Roncal by the people of the French
valley Of Baritons. The inhabitants of Roncal
finding themselves unable to avenge the murder
of their relatives and friends. appealed to the
Pope for redress who, after according them hear
ing condemned the people of the valley of Baritons
to pay in perpetuity an annual blood tax of three
white heifers and sum Of mooney equivalent to
about $500.
Very early on the morning Of the 18th, all the
roads leading toward Ossa were crowded with
people hurryjng to the meeting-place. The shel-
herds of the valley Of Baritons, with their red
waistcoats, the mayors and municipal councillors
of the villages of Arrett of Lannc ETC.. with their
tri-celored scarfs, the frontier guards, and the
custom-house officers, and number of village
priests, preceded by kind OF herald bearing
white flag as o sign of their pacific Intentions
came from the French side, and TOOK up thelr
position the stone marking the boundary
line between the two countries. FROM the spanish
side procession seen coming which was stlll
more picturesque than the French one. The alcaldes
of the several villages in the valley OF koncal
wore peculiar and rather striking costume, IN
f{aI 1llor
tipped wands of office. They likewise were pre-
coded BY herald bearing red nag. this color
being the symbol OF justice: On reaching me
boundary line each procession arranged itself
at few yards distance from one another. and the
acalde Of the Spanish village of lsaba cried aloud
in Spanish
The French mayors replied in the same IAN
Ave dol7 and in token OF the sincerity of their
sentiments their herald laid his flag, on the from
tier stone. The Spanish herald thereupon aI-
preached and placed his red flag upon the French
one, in such manner that the two neg.staas
placed his right hand the cross thus formed,
and one of the Spanish alcaldes followed suit and
other mayors followed their example, Spanish
alternating with French hand The alcalde of
Isaba came last, and placing his wand of office on
ancient formula of the oath, which all swore 70
observe. When this had finished, the alcalde of
Isaba cried aloud thrice: Paz davans" tpeace for
Peace was therefore concluded afresh and In
order to ratify their abandonment of
all ideas Of vengeance, the Spanish carabneros
and frontier guards, who, unlike their
French comrades, had come fully armed discharged
their rifles and pistols into the air. Thereupon
the tax, consisting Of the money and three white
heifers. was handed over by the French mayors
to the acaide of lsaba. After the official record
had been drawn up by notary public Of Isaba, a
BANQUET was given at the expense of the acaldcs OF
the valley of the ROncal France and Spain were
toasted and the ceremony was brought TO close
by dance
| may add that similar ceremonies take place in
other portions of the Pyrenees, notably in the
valley OF Layedur. The whole scene, with these
village mayors and alcaldes treating grayely on
questions of peace and war between the two
countries. reminded me rresistibly OF a scene Of