CHAPTEE XVI. 



PERIQUE TOBACCO. 



Of all the product of the tobacco plant in America, 

 the Perique its culture, curing and preparation for 

 market is the most interesting ; not on account of the 

 quantity produced, or of its importance to commerce, 

 but because of the peculiarity of the people by whom it 

 is grown, and the singular method by which it is cured. 

 Its culture is confined to a very limited area in Louis- 

 iana, and to a class of people whose history is full of 

 suffering and pathos the Arcadians. 



One of their number, Pierre Chenet, introduced the 

 cultivation of tobacco and taught his countrymen how 

 to prepare it for market, by making tightly wrapped 

 rolls, called carottes, that could be carried to market 

 and handled with ease. In his honor, the tobacco so 

 prepared was called Perique. For nearly 100 years this 

 tobacco has been grown in St. James Parish, with but 

 little variation as to quantity, except when calamity 

 visits the people. In 1859 the product of the Parish 

 was 22,000 pounds, in 1869 it was reduced to 3450 

 pounds, by reason of political troubles. In 1879 it rose 

 to 14,680 pounds, and in 1889 the quantity produced 

 was almost identical with that of 1859, being 22,360 

 pounds. 



There are two places in St. James Parish where 

 Perique tobacco is grown. One of the points lies imme- 

 diately on the left bank of the Mississippi river, the 

 post village Convent being about the longitudinal center. 

 The other is on the same side of the river at Grande 

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