The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1913-01-30
A CURIOUS COURT
It Is Held Annually When France
Pays Tribute to Spain.
PRICE OF AN ANCIENT PEACE.

After More Than Five Centuries Three
Calves Are Still Humbly Presented
Each Year to the Naughty Descend
ants of the Victorious Spanlards.
Every year there takes place in the
Pyrenean highlands a remarkable fete
1t is held at the boundary stone OF san
Martin, which separates the FRENCH
valley Bareton from the Spanish valley
of Roncal Every year the representa-
tives of the French peasants assemble
there in order to pay the SpaniardS
tribute, which consists of three calves
Of the same age and the same color.
and the delivery OF the calves Is ac-
companied by ceremonies which SUN
GENTLY indicate that the old inhablt
ants of the Roncal valley were once
victorious over their neiGhbOrs.
At 0 o'clock in the morning the may
ors of the various villages in the Bare
ton valley. bravely adorned with their
blue, white and red ScarfS OF office
march up to the boundary stone. In
front of the column walks lad. with a
pike, from the point of which tlutterS Il
little white pennon as a gage OF peace
The three calves are dragged in the
rear of the procession at the end OF
long ropes. Calves and scarfs take up
their position by the stone and await
the arrival of the SpaniardS.
They are soon visible in the distance
In front walks a man clad in sheep
skins, who waves a red pennon at the
end of pike as a sign of war. Behind
him walks the alcalde of Isaba. the
principal village in the valley of Ron
cal. and following him come the a.
caldes of the other villages, their STATS
of office in their hands. The bulk of
the procession consists of shepherds.
stern looking fellows armed with old
sabers and matchlocks.
The alcalde of ISaba is all glorious TO
behold in a long black garment faS-
tened by gold buttons, tall white ruff,
tight fitting knee breeches, red silk
stockings and buckled shoes. A som
brero covers his head. and in his hands
he holds the staff adorned with silver
knobs. the emblem in Spain of magiS-
terial dignity.
AS soon as the Spanhrds reach the
rendezvous the alcalde Of Isaba steps
to the front and addresses them in sol
emn ceremonial style:
Are you come to pay tribute and
swear friendship according to old Gus
tom and tradition?"
THAT is the reason of our coming.
| answer the French.
Then the two standard bearers ap
proach the boundary stone and lay
| their pixies croSswiSe upon il. After a
| few moments the Spaniard takes his
up again. sticks it into French soil and
| then places it as before on the stone
| On the cross formed by the two shafts
| the representatives Of the two valleys
swear to keep the peace with loya
| mind
Then follows the delivery of the three
calves to the Spaniards. They are ex
amined by a veterinary surgeon anC
accepted. after which all present take
up their stations under q shady oak
and. following the example of the gOoC
St Louis of France and Alfonso the
Wise of Spain, the alcalde of Isaba en-
thrones himself among the gnarleC
roots of the oak and proceeds to act a:
a magistrate
Shepherds and neatherds pass befor,
him and prefer their international com
plants. The judge listens to both sides
bids them bring forward their witness
es and delivers Judgment without de
lay, inhicting a fine on one, awardin,
compensation to another. Furnishing on
and affording satisfaction to his victim
After all the quarrels are settled tn
alcalde undertakes the appointment o
the pasture guardians for both valleys
so that he enjoys even greater author
fly in the township of Bareton than tn
president OF the republic himself. Fl
nally. they all betake themselves t
Spanish soil. where a Homeric feast |
set out, and till late in the night tn
banquet goes on. the descendants U
the old warlike mountain peoples drink
ing together in brotherly unity in con
memOration of the conclusion of tn
peace Of 1875 and the installation c
the above ceremonies.
About 300 years after this treaty ha
been made the French began to refus
to pay the tribute, but after some negc
tiations they consented to continue i
In more modern times they tried to 81
the tribute committed to sum of moi
ey, but the Spaniards declined. br
agreed to forego the firing of guns
the direction Of France as being
wound to French amour propre.-Lol
don Spectator.