The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-02-18

- casejros Of the country, retain
IL holding under life leases and pay
~"etats 10 the morgados, the owners of the
aetat.s or the gentlemen farmers" ashley
- ,.ro called. in kind" Ii is a sort Of
,;.he system amicably adjusted between
o,,ner and peasant. a grade below these
csseiros is a class corresponding TO the
rnoleh. Scotch and Irish c%ottiers. These
chonpanas live In the cabins Of the morga-
dos and c~ascir0s az the VIII Of the latter.
Aside from these are the sheep and cattle
herlers and the goatherds that are found
IN more picturesque mountain localities
the flax bleachers along the edge OF some
bawling mountain stream or against the
sheltering rocks by the seashOre; the IN
terror muleteers, who, for the most trivial
wages or portions Of grain, convey pro-
ucts and merchandise TO and from the
towns Of the coast, and the wOodchOppefs
OF the mountains. and the ~carbOneiros' VINO
are found In the highest mountain forests
lazily employed IN burning the charcoal
used in cooking by the aristocracy Oh lhe
cities.
With thege divisions Of the Portuguese
peasantrv may be counted The rush gauh'
erers Of the mountain tarns; the osier cut
ters. who supply the basket makers OF the
towns. the furze gatherers. who dot the
dreariest mountain heights. the fern ana
rush cutters, who supply the churches ana
homes with fragrant DrancheslO stre"ihs
on holy and feast days, and the WOOD giean'
ers. who gather dead limbs 40 viii I'D the
forests Of estates and among the mountain
wilds. both for the use Of the peasantry
and the humber classes Of the towns.
Among All these people there Is not b.
single implement or utensil Invented Wa
in The past thousand years; an ordinary
American farm hand would accomplish un-
der our methods in one day more than a
score Of arg of these, and the wizard
brush OF the painter Of Barbazon never
fashioned upon canvas more s~tartingly
ancient ways, wares, pOstures and plod-
dinus among the clods Of Brittany than re-
main universal and changeless among lle
bright eyed but changeless folk Oh ihese
enhancing mountain wales.
There is a careless, half joyous abandon
upon the surface Of an peasant toll Whicn
adds greatly TO its p~icturesquenes7. JON
with this Quaintncss in dress, primitive
ness of implements, that grace which vi
varyingly accompanies innocent ignorance,
and Che universal loveliness OF scenery, u
YOUR pastoral pictures are most idylhc and
complete. Ground is titled with oxen, tan
dem. in rush traces drawing a ploW oil uhe
sort first known TO man-the tree crook OF
sharpened root. Now and then you VIII
find one rudely pointed with iron. One
short furrow is scratched amid tremendous
shoutings. Then the half dozen VINO have
clung to the handles, rode upon the beam
or ooaded the oxen. rest by the flower laden
hedge or division wall to enjoy siesta OF
the delights OF countryside gossip WIN
passing goatherds or muleteers. Where
the hillside is too steep for this gentle
process. long handled hoes with cumorous
blades do lazy duty, Cor the spade is reject
ed as a cOntrivance of the evil one.
All American cereals grow here IN luXu-
rance for "a mere prich..g Of the soil The
small grains are gathered, a handful aJ q
time. cut by the olden sickle, and cleaners
follow as i'm the Bible days. Corn is cut,
or pulled. the leaves preserved for fodder,
the stalks munched by goats or donkeys
or used for fires, the ears strung together
and hung upon pyramidal lattice work Tor
curing, and finally, after h~usklng-when
the genuine old fashioned American "husk
inc bee" here of weeks duration, the
ueasant securing every hundredth ear for
his labor. and a kiss from his inamorata
for every red ear found, is everywhere pro
g~ressing-the kernels are removed from the
cobs by the cottiers and children, who re
ceive the cob, for burning, in payment. A
score of merry stragglers IS required TO
house the product of one acre OF ground,
and every one Of these work, or make pre-
tense Of work, in that care free, need moth
ing way that marks all toll and effort here.
Wheat, barley and rye are thrashed pre-
cisely as they were "A thousand years ago.
At every roadside and beside the granary
Of every v~illeggiatura, round, high piles OF
pumiced stone, beaten and rain soaked
until hard as granite, may be seen. These,
called eiras. are the Portuguese threShlng
floors. The grain is piled upon them and
COWS and oxen, blindfolded. are driven
around in opposite directions until the
treading has released the kernels. There
is no other method Of threshing grain IN
this country, and the tanning mill is IN
known. The straw is lifted off the eiras
with wooden forks and preserved for the
food of donkeys and goats. Then a flag is
nOlSit1 10 llu llt ulIttlADn VI b4t " iA4NA
This done, men and women, but more often
women and girls, stand at the sid from
whence comes the wind, throw the grain
and chaff into the air and the chatf IS borne
away.
The home life of the Portuguese peasant,
if not always a radiant one, never lacks
cheeriness, affection and simple content.
lie knows no other life better than his own
and is satisfied with what be has and gets
TO the end of his days. TIL cottage OF
cabin or hut is simply a square structure
built of rock, matched with furze or tiles.
The windows and doors are never closed,
for there are neither cold blasts nor rob
bers TO enter. The bare earth is the floor.
He requires no stove. His fireplace for
cooking is simply a slab, waist high in the
wall, and the smoke kindly takes care OF
itself. His staple food is meal bread fast
dav. feast day and five times "A day. Eggs
chickens and goats milk are almost with
out value, and salt fish, usually ''bacalho'
or dried Goldfish. and wine are his ~luXuries
His wife is d%utiful, his children beauti
full. As the lowly 90 they are all Clearly
if the chickens do perch in the loft, the pr
insist upon domestic cOmpanionship an'
his goats choose the inside Of the house a
night. He lives g%lOriously in his wa.
without severe effort. His wife and chill
dren are loyal and never gadabouts. He i
rue to his religion, his home, his friends
and he is never too old 10 love the guital
or mandolin or 70 join with his wife in TIT
innocent dances TO the numbers Of his be
loved countryside music. II he Is ailins
unto death the church comes TO him. scar