The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-08
A QUEER COLONY.
Cinnamon in Louisiana Who Live by
Catching Shrimps.
New Orleans Times Democrat.

New Orleans Times-Democrat.
Hidden away in the labyrinthine bayous
Oh lower Jefferson parish and scattered
about the margins of Grand lake. Little
lake and the musically named Cheniere
Camlnada IS a strange colony the bare
existence of which is practically I'M
2,OO0 people, three-fourths of whom are Chi
nese and the rest Maniamen and unclassi-
camps near the edge of the water, their
habits are incredibly simple and semi-sav-
age and their business is the catching and
drying of shrimp.
This singular settlement recently came to
the surface in some litigation, the call
endar of the local courts over the owner
snip OF q piece of adjacent property, but the
industry has been quietly pursued, from time
out of mind, in almost unbroken isolation
Its product is never seen in the New Or
leans market but is shipped direct to San
francisco and New York and consumed en-
urely by the Chinese. At certain seasons
lhe shrimp are caught by the millions in
rude hand nets and spread in layers on plat
forms, built over the surface of the water
The hot sun soon shriVels them up and they
become desiccated. When thoroughly dry
they are brown and brittle and have a sweet
nutty flavor that is far from disagreeable
In this condition they are packed loosely in
barrels holding about $50 pounds each and
sent to native merchants on Mott and DOy-
ers streets, in New York and to the famous
Chinatown of Frisco. At both places they
are in lively demand and are eaten either as
condiments without further preparation, or
with a curry of rice. Even American bar
barans find them very good.
The scene at the shrimpng camps is so
strangely Oriental that it is hard for a
visitor to realize that he is in the neigh
borhood of a big American city. AS q
matter of fact the industry is imported,
and drying is pursued on a vast scale in
China. Almost all the colonists come
from families of shrimpers and when they
save sufficient money return to the
Flowery Kingdom and send back relatives
to take their places There are thousands
of common Chinese fans in the stores of
bearing pictures
fishers and dryers, and, no doubt many a
purchaser has puzzled over the queer
daubs and wondered what it all meant.
The same thing precisely could be wit
messed by making trip to the outlying
bayous of Grand lake.
Secluded as they have been, the litigation
already referred to is not the first event
that has brought the Chinese shrimpers 10
the attention 1OfA New Orleans officials.
About eleven years ago a tremendous row
was raised at the postOffice over some I'M
known matter that was tainting the mails
with a peculiar and villainous odor. The
trail being as evident as the aura of soap
foundry, the government sleuths were not
greatly overworked in following it to GER
tain mysterious hierOglyphics. The bundles
contained dried shrimp, prepared after a
special and odoriferous formula, and sent
as udbitS to friends of the colony. Need
less to say, they were promptly confiscated
under the rules of the postal service, but
the mailing went on, to a wild chorus of
public protest One day the superintend-
ent was passing his window just as a China
man dropped a tabooed parcel in the slot.
the package he hurled it instantly at the
retreating Celestial, who turned just in time
to stop it with his nose. The Chinaman
emitted howl OF anguish, and from that
day to this not q single shrimp has ever
perfumed the mails.
But the most remarkable story connected
with the shrimpers is that of the Chinese
prince. 1t is a true story and curious in
it's details, and so grotesquely sinister in
Its denouement that it might easily be
elaborated into a striking romance of
Anglo-Oriental life. However, the plain
! facts are these:
About seven years ago a Chinese prince
of the blood came to New Orleans for his
health He was not i'll, but he had reasons
for believing that he might live longer if 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
all Or1entals, he kept his own counsel
strictly, but it was limited in the Chinese
colony that he had taken TOO active an in
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 genuine
ness. Those Americans who met him in
connection with certain business transac-
lons found MIN cultured, superbly edu-
Gated and thoroughly accomplished man of
the world. His official robes which formed
part Oh an extensive luggage, were such
gorgeous affairs as are seldom seen outside
the sacred circles of the court They were
made of silk Of the wonderful weave re-
served for the royal house, to counterfeit
which means DEATH and were stiff with in
tricate embroidery. He had besides a multi
tude OF strange and beautiful trinkets
carvings in jade and ivory, splendid fans
lnlald work as delicate as frost, caskets
crusted with silver filigree and a hundred
and one other things, all attesting his taste,
position and at least former wealth. But
IN spite of these numerous evidences of
luxurious habits the prince was a very
businesslike gentleman. and he proceeded at
once to beguile his exile by obtaining an in
terest In the largest shrimpery on Grand
lake.
He had the sagacity to assume charge of
the books, which he kept with such skill
that at the end of six months they clearly
demonstrated that he owned the entire prop
erty ana was entitled to all the profits Of
the season. A long wrangle ensued. Mr..
Edgar NJ. Calm. of the then firm of Noise
q Calm, was the attorney of the shrimpers,
ana ms once was the scene of interminable
al guments, all ending as they began, with
the prince in possession.
Such was the situation when one afternoon
six stolid-looking Cinnamon filed into Mr..
Gains presence. They were the plundered
partners, and without wasting time they
made brief and pointed statement in choice
pigeon English I'VE are tired of American
law, they said in substance. 1T is too
SLOW Besides, we have society that at
tends 20 such matters 1t is called the High
binders. Possibly the prince has heard of
this society. If not he will hear from it
shortly. Kindly convey to him this message
with our. compliments. Good day."
Ine prince was sent for. He arrived at
Q. clock and listened to the communication
with composure. At o'clock he called
again and made q settlement in full. Next
day he departed and has never been heard
or since. 1t is understood, however that
there was change in the political situation
in China and that he now resides at Picking,
where: judging from his shrimping advent
ufe ne has probably prOspered. Before
leaving ne gave some trinkets to a few
friends, who still preserve them as souvenirs
or q SInEuIaTlV able