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grew impatient； and resolved to try the secular power。 They
accordingly applied to the Cortes of Navarre； and were opposed on a
variety of grounds。 First； it was stated that their ancestors had
had nothing to do with Raymond Count of Toulouse； or with any such
knightly personage； that they were in fact descendants of Gehazi；
servant of Elisha （second book of Kings； fifth chapter； twenty…
seventh verse）； who had been accursed by his master for his fraud
upon Naaman； and doomed； he and his descendants； to be lepers for
evermore。 Name； Cagots or Gahets； Gahets； Gehazites。 What can be
more clear？ And if that is not enough； and you tell us that the
Cagots are not lepers now； we reply that there are two kinds of
leprosy； one perceptible and the other imperceptible； even to the
person suffering from it。 Besides； it is the country talk； that
where the Cagot treads； the grass withers； proving the unnatural heat
of his body。 Many credible and trustworthy witnesses will also tell
you that； if a Cagot holds a freshly…gathered apple in his hand； it
will shrivel and wither up in an hour's time as much as if it had
been kept for a whole winter in a dry room。 They are born with
tails； although the parents are cunning enough to pinch them off
immediately。 Do you doubt this？ If it is not true； why do the
children of the pure race delight in sewing on sheep's tails to the
dress of any Cagot who is so absorbed in his work as not to perceive
them？ And their bodily smell is so horrible and detestable that it
shows that they must be heretics of some vile and pernicious
description； for do we not read of the incense of good workers； and
the fragrance of holiness？〃
Such were literally the arguments by which the Cagots were thrown
back into a worse position than ever； as far as regarded their rights
as citizens。 The Pope insisted that they should receive all their
ecclesiastical privileges。 The Spanish priests said nothing； but
tacitly refused to allow the Cagots to mingle with the rest of the
faithful； either dead or alive。 The accursed race obtained laws in
their favour from the Emperor Charles the Fifth； which； however；
there was no one to carry into effect。 As a sort of revenge for
their want of submission； and for their impertinence in daring to
complain； their tools were all taken away from them by the local
authorities： an old man and all his family died of starvation； being
no longer allowed to fish。
They could not emigrate。 Even to remove their poor mud habitations；
from one spot to another； excited anger and suspicion。 To be sure；
in sixteen hundred and ninety…five； the Spanish government ordered
the alcaldes to search out all the Cagots； and to expel them before
two months had expired； under pain of having fifty ducats to pay for
every Cagot remaining in Spain at the expiration of that time。 The
inhabitants of the villages rose up and flogged out any of the
miserable race who might be in their neighbourhood； but the French
were on their guard against this enforced irruption； and refused to
permit them to enter France。 Numbers were hunted up into the
inhospitable Pyrenees； and there died of starvation； or became a prey
to wild beasts。 They were obliged to wear both gloves and shoes when
they were thus put to flight； otherwise the stones and herbage they
trod upon and the balustrades of the bridges that they handled in
crossing； would； according to popular belief； have become poisonous。
And all this time； there was nothing remarkable or disgusting in the
outward appearance of this unfortunate people。 There was nothing
about them to countenance the idea of their being lepersthe most
natural mode of accounting for the abhorrence in which they were
held。 They were repeatedly examined by learned doctors； whose
experiments； although singular and rude； appear to have been made in
a spirit of humanity。 For instance； the surgeons of the king of
Navarre； in sixteen hundred； bled twenty…two Cagots； in order to
examine and analyze their blood。 They were young and healthy people
of both sexes； and the doctors seem to have expected that they should
have been able to extract some new kind of salt from their blood
which might account for the wonderful heat of their bodies。 But
their blood was just like that of other people。 Some of these
medical men have left us a description of the general appearance of
this unfortunate race； at a time when they were more numerous and
less intermixed than they are now。 The families existing in the
south and west of France； who are reputed to be of Cagot descent at
this day； are； like their ancestors； tall； largely made； and powerful
in frame； fair and ruddy in complexion； with gray…blue eyes； in which
some observers see a pensive heaviness of look。 Their lips are
thick； but well…formed。 Some of the reports name their sad
expression of countenance with surprise and suspicion〃They are not
gay； like other folk。〃 The wonder would be if they were。 Dr。 Guyon；
the medical man of the last century who has left the clearest report
on the health of the Cagots； speaks of the vigorous old age they
attain to。 In one family alone； he found a man of seventy…four years
of age； a woman as old； gathering cherries； and another woman； aged
eighty…three； was lying on the grass； having her hair combed by her
great…grandchildren。 Dr。 Guyon and other surgeons examined into the
subject of the horribly infectious smell which the Cagots were said
to leave behind them； and upon everything they touched； but they
could perceive nothing unusual on this head。 They also examined
their ears； which according to common belief （a belief existing to
this day）； were differently shaped from those of other people； being
round and gristly； without the lobe of flesh into which the ear…ring
is inserted。 They decided that most of the Cagots whom they examined
had the ears of this round shape； but they gravely added； that they
saw no reason why this should exclude them from the good…will of men；
and from the power of holding office in Church and State。 They
recorded the fact； that the children of the towns ran baaing after
any Cagot who had been compelled to come into the streets to make
purchases； in allusion to this peculiarity of the shape of the ear；
which bore some resemblance to the ears of the sheep as they are cut
by the shepherds in this district。 Dr。 Guyon names the case of a
beautiful Cagot girl； who sang most sweetly； and prayed to be allowed
to sing canticles in the organ…loft。 The organist； more musician
than bigot； allowed her to come； but the indignant congregation；
finding out whence proceeded that clear； fresh voice； rushed up to
the organ…loft； and chased the girl out； bidding her 〃remember her
ears；〃 and not commit the sacrilege of singing praises to God along
with the pure race。
But this medical report of Dr。 Guyon'sbringing facts and arguments
to confirm his opinion； that there was no ph