The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-10
A QUEER COLONY.


Cinnamon In Louisiana VINO 1--we ny
Catching shrimps.
From the New Orleans Times Democrat.
Hidden away in the labyrnthne bayous
Of Lower jefferson parish, aud scattered
about the margins of Grand lake Little
lake and the musically named Cehnere
Camnada, is a strange colony, the bare
existence of which Is practically I'M
known. It numbers, all told, at least 1909
people three-fourths of whom are Chi
nese and the rest Manilamen and un-
classified mongrels. They live in brush
wood camps near the edge of the water,
their habits are incredibly simple and
semi-savagc, and their business is the
catching and driving Of shrimp.
THIS singular settlement recently came
to the surface in some litigation on tho
calendar Of the Local courts over the own
ership of a piece of adjacent property, but
the industry has been quietly pursued
from time out Of mind in almost un-
broken isolation. Its product Is never seen
in Inc New Orleans market, but Is ship
pod direct 10 San Francisco and New
York, and consumed entirely by the Chi
nese. Al certain seasons the shrimp are
caught by the millions in rude hand nets,
and spread in layers on platforms built
over the surface Of the water. The hot
sun soon shrivels hem up and they he
come desiccated, When thoroughly dry
they are brown and brittle, and have
sweet, nutty flavor that Is far from dis
agreeable. In this condition they are
packed loosely in barrels holding about
$50 pounds each. and sent to native mer-
chants in Mote sand Doyers streets in
New York. and 10 the famous Chinatown
Of Frisco. At both places they are in
lively de pnand and are eaten either as
condiments, without further preparation.
OF with a curry OF rice Even American
barbaraus find them very good.
The scene at the shrlmping camps is
so strangely oriental that II Is hard for
a visitor TO realize thai he Is IN the neigh
borhood Of q big American city. As
matter of fact. the industry is imported,
and exactly the same process Of fishing
aud drying is pursued on n vast scale in
China. Almost all the coonists come
from families OF shrimpers, and when
they save sufficient money return to The
Fowery Kingdom and send back rela-
tives 20 take their places There are thou
sands OF common Chinese fans In tho
stores OF New orleans bearing pictures of
shrimp fishers and dryers, and no doubt
many a purchaser has been puzzled over
the queer daubs and wondered what il all
meant The same thing precisely could
be witnessed by making trip TO the out
living bayous Of Grand lake.
Secluded as they have been. the litigation
already referred 20 Is not the first event
that has brought the Chinese shrimpers to
the attention Of New orleans officials
!. About eleven years ago tremendous row
was raised al the postoffiee over some I'M
known matter that was taintng Tie mails
with a peculiar and villanous odor. The
trail being as evident as the aura Of a
SOAP foundry the government sleuths were
not greatly over-worked In following IL 10
certafn mysterious herglyphics The bum
dies contained dried shrimp, prepared af-
ter a special and odoriferous formula, and
sent as tidDits 70 friends Of the colony.
Needless TO say, they were promptly con-
nscated under the rules Of the postal SER
vice; but the mailing went on. TO a wild
chorus Of public protest one day the sup
erintendent was passing his window just
as a Chinaman dropped tatooed parcel In
the slot The official was man Of action.
Grabbing the package he hurled it instant
~ at the retreatlng Celestial. who turned
Just in time 10 stop II with his nose. The
Chnaman emitted a howl OF anguish. and
from that day to this not single shrimp
has ever perfumcd the malls.
But the most remarkable story connect
ed with the shrimpers is that Of the Chi
nese prince. It isya true story. and Gu
rious In It's details, and 20 grotesquely sin
lister in its denouement that IL might cas-
lily be elaborated into a striking romance
Of Anglo Oriental life However. the plain
facts are these:
About seven years ago Chinese prince
OF the blood came 70 New Orleans for his
health He was not III but he had reasons
for believing that he might live longer il
he removed himself temporarily from the
neighborhood of the Court and enjoyed
complete change Of Diet Exactly what
these reasons were nobody knows, for. like
al Orientals he kept his own counsel
strictly but Il was limited In the Chinese
colony that he had taken 100 active an
interest In politics and was regarded at
Picking as an offensive partisan.
Strangely enough, the news Of his pres
ence here never got into the papers. but
there was no doubt whatever Of his gem
uineness. Those Americans who met him
in connection with certain business trans
actions found him a cultured superbIy ed
ucated and thoroughly accomplished man
OF the world His official robes which
formed part Of an extensive luggage, were
such gorgeous affairs as are seldom seen
outside The sacred circles Of the Court.
They were made Of SIX OF the wonderful
weave reserved for the royal house. to
counterfeit which means death ana .,.a.-a.