The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1913-02-28
A CURIOUS court
Ills Held Annually When France
I. Pays Tribute to Spain.
PRICE OF AN ANCIENT PEACE.

/
| After Moro Than Five Centuries Thre,
| Calves Are Still HumbIy Presentse
Zach Year to the Naughty Descend.
ants of the Victorious Spaniards.
Every year there takes place in tht
Pyrenean highlands n remarkable fete
I 1t is held at the boundary stone of Sar
Martin. which separates the French
valley fsareton FROM the Spanish valley
Of Roncal. Every year the representa-
lives Of the French peasants assemble
there III order to pay the Spanfaids d
rrbute. which consists Of three calves
uf the same age and the same color
and the delivery Of the calves Is ;ic.
companied by ceremonies which suiIi
ciently indicate that the old inhabit
ants of the Roncal valley were once
victorious over their neishbors.
Al o oclock in the morning the may
ors of the various villages In the Bnrc
ton valley. bravely adorned with thei
blue, white and red scarfs Of office
Anrch up to the boundary stone. In
fiont Of the column walks Il lad. with a
PIKE from the point OF which hutters II
;ttle white peilnon as Il gage Of peace
The three calves are dragged In the
fear OF the procession at the end of
long ropes. Calves and scarfs take up
lheir position by the stone and await
the arrival Of the Spanards
They are soon visible In the distance
In front walks man clad III sheep
skins, who waves a red pcnnon at the
end of Il pike as sign Of war. Behind
him walks the alcalde Of Isaba. the
principal village in the valley of Ron
eei. nnd following him come the a.
caides Of the other villages. their staf's
OF Office in their hands. The bulk OF
the procession consists Of shepherds.
stern looking fellows armed with old
sNhers and matchocks
The ifcaIde Of Isaba Is all glorious to
behold In long black garment fns-
tened by gold buttons, tall white ruff,
tight fitting knee breeches. red silk
stockings and buelsled shoes. A som
brero covers his head and in Eis hands
he holds the staff adorned with silver
knobs, the emblem in Spain Of magis
terial dignity
AS soon as the Spaniards 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 anu
swear friendship according to old Gus
tom and tradlti0nt'
"That Is the reason of our coming
answer the French.
Then the two standard bearers al,
proach the boundary stone and lay
their pixies erosswise upon 1t. After
few moments the Spnniard takes his
up again, sticks it into French soil and
then places 1t 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 Spanlards. They are ex
amined by veterinary surgeon and
accepted, after which all present take
and. following the example Of the good
st. Louis Of France and Alfonso the
Wise of Spain, the alcalde Of Isabn en-
thrones himself among the gnarIed
roots of the oak and proceeds to act as
magistrate
Shepherds and neatherds pass before
him and prefer their international com
plants The judge listens to both sides
bids them bring forward their witness
es and delivers Judgment without dc
lay, in1ictfng fine on enc, awarding
compensa ton to another, Furnishing one
and aifording satisfaction to his victim
After all the quarrels are settled the
alcalde undertakes the appointment OF
the pasture guardians for both valleys,
SO that he enjoys even greater author
ity In the township of Bareton than the
president of the republic himself III
nally. they all betake themselves TO
Spanish soil. where Homeric feast is
set cut, and till late In the night the
banquet goes on. the descendants OF
the old warlike mountain peoples drink
ing together in brotherly unity in com
memoration OF the conclusion OF the
peace of 1875 and the installation of
the above ceremonies.
About 300 years after this treaty had
been made the French began to refuse
70 pay the tribute, but after some nego
tiations they consented to continue ii.
In more msdern times they tried 10 get
the tribute committed to a sum OF mon
ey. but the Spaniards declined. but
agreed to forego the firing of guns In
the direction of France as being u
wound to French amour propre.-lson.
don Spectator.