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But this medical report of Dr。 Guyon'sbringing facts and arguments
to confirm his opinion； that there was no physical reason why the
Cagots should not be received on terms of social equality by the rest
of the worlddid no more for his clients than the legal decrees
promulgated two centuries before had done。 The French proved the
truth of the saying in Hudibras …
He that's convinced against his will
Is of the same opinion still。
And； indeed； the being convinced by Dr。 Guyon that they ought to
receive Cagots as fellow…creatures； only made them more rabid in
declaring that they would not。 One or two little occurrences which
are recorded； show that the bitterness of the repugnance to the
Cagots was in full force at the time just preceding the first French
revolution。 There was a M。 d'Abedos； the curate of Lourbes； and
brother to the seigneur of the neighbouring castle； who was living in
seventeen hundred and eighty； he was well…educated for the time； a
travelled man； and sensible and moderate in all respects but that of
his abhorrence of the Cagots： he would insult them from the very
altar； calling out to them； as they stood afar off； 〃Oh！ ye Cagots；
damned for evermore！〃 One day； a half…blind Cagot stumbled and
touched the censer borne before this Abbe de Lourbes。 He was
immediately turned out of the church； and forbidden ever to re…enter
it。 One does not know how to account for the fact； that the very
brother of this bigoted abbe； the seigneur of the village； went and
married a Cagot girl； but so it was； and the abbe brought a legal
process against him； and had his estates taken from him； solely on
account of his marriage； which reduced him to the condition of a
Cagot； against whom the old law was still in force。 The descendants
of this Seigneur de Lourbes are simple peasants at this very day；
working on the lands which belonged to their grandfather。
This prejudice against mixed marriages remained prevalent until very
lately。 The tradition of the Cagot descent lingered among the
people； long after the laws against the accursed race were abolished。
A Breton girl； within the last few years； having two lovers each of
reputed Cagot descent； employed a notary to examine their pedigrees；
and see which of the two had least Cagot in him； and to that one she
gave her hand。 In Brittany the prejudice seems to have been more
virulent than anywhere else。 M。 Emile Souvestre records proofs of
the hatred borne to them in Brittany so recently as in eighteen
hundred and thirty…five。 Just lately a baker at Hennebon； having
married a girl of Cagot descent； lost all his custom。 The godfather
and godmother of a Cagot child became Cagots themselves by the Breton
laws； unless； indeed； the poor little baby died before attaining a
certain number of days。 They had to eat the butchers' meat condemned
as unhealthy； but； for some unknown reason； they were considered to
have a right to every cut leaf turned upside down； with its cut side
towards the door； and might enter any house in which they saw a loaf
in this position； and carry it away with them。 About thirty years
ago； there was the skeleton of a hand hanging up as an offering in a
Breton church near Quimperle； and the tradition was； that it was the
hand of a rich Cagot who had dared to take holy water out of the
usual benitier； some time at the beginning of the reign of Louis the
Sixteenth； which an old soldier witnessing； he lay in wait； and the
next time the offender approached the benitier he cut off his hand；
and hung it up； dripping with blood； as an offering to the patron
saint of the church。 The poor Cagots in Brittany petitioned against
their opprobrious name； and begged to be distinguished by the
appelation of Malandrins。 To English ears one is much the same as
the other； as neither conveys any meaning； but； to this day； the
descendants of the Cagots do not like to have this name applied to
them； preferring that of Malandrin。
The French Cagots tried to destroy all the records of their pariah
descent； in the commotions of seventeen hundred and eighty…nine； but
if writings have disappeared； the tradition yet remains； and points
out such and such a family as Cagot； or Malandrin； or Oiselier；
according to the old terms of abhorrence。
There are various ways in which learned men have attempted to account
for the universal repugnance in which this well…made； powerful race
are held。 Some say that the antipathy to them took its rise in the
days when leprosy was a dreadfully prevalent disease； and that the
Cagots are more liable than any other men to a kind of skin disease；
not precisely leprosy； but resembling it in some of its symptoms；
such as dead whiteness of complexion； and swellings of the face and
extremities。 There was also some resemblance to the ancient Jewish
custom in respect to lepers； in the habit of the people； who on
meeting a Cagot called out； 〃Cagote？ Cagote？〃 to which they were
bound to reply； 〃Perlute！ perlute！〃 Leprosy is not properly an
infectious complaint； in spite of the horror in which the Cagot
furniture； and the cloth woven by them； are held in some places； the
disorder is hereditary； and hence （say this body of wise men； who
have troubled themselves to account for the origin of Cagoterie） the
reasonableness and the justice of preventing any mixed marriages； by
which this terrible tendency to leprous complaints might be spread
far and wide。 Another authority says； that though the Cagots are
fine…looking men； hard…working； and good mechanics； yet they bear in
their faces； and show in their actions； reasons for the detestation
in which they are held： their glance； if you meet it； is the
jettatura； or evil…eye； and they are spiteful； and cruel； and
deceitful above all other men。 All these qualities they derive from
their ancestor Gehazi； the servant of Elisha； together with their
tendency to leprosy。
Again； it is said that they are descended from the Arian Goths who
were permitted to live in certain places in Guienne and Languedoc；
after their defeat by King Clovis； on condition that they abjured
their heresy； and kept themselves separate from all other men for
ever。 The principal reason alleged in support of this supposition of
their Gothic descent； is the specious one of derivation；Chiens
Gots； Cans Gets； Cagots； equivalent to Dogs of Goths。
Again； they were thought to be Saracens； coming from Syria。 In
confirmation of this idea； was the belief that all Cagots were
possessed by a horrible smell。 The Lombards； also； were an
unfragrant race； or so reputed among the Italians： witness Pope
Stephen's letter to Charlemagne； dissuading him from marrying Bertha；
daughter of Didier； King of Lombardy。 The Lombards boasted of
Eastern descent； and were noisome。 The Cagots were noisome； and
therefore must be of Eastern descent。 What could be clearer？ In
addition； there was the proof to be derived from the nam