"MISS NARI" THAT PUSHES THE EXPLORER

CRAWFISH ON THE DECK

LOREAUVILLE, LOUISIANA

While cruising on the "RIVER EXPLORER" we were told this fascinating story by Eddie Conrad, the owner of the "River Explorer". In the 60's in the small town of LOREAUVILLE, LOUISIANA near NEW IBERIA, the only language spoken at that time was Cajun French. In 1969 Ed Conrad of "COMPASS MARINE" wanted to have his boat, which he named "LAGONDE", built in the "BREAUX SHIPYARD". However, all the architectural plans were written in English, and the people at that time could not read or write in English. The boat was built without instructions....with no problems. Below is the photo of the "RIVER EXPLORER" owned by Eddie Conrad. Our trip was a fascinating 8 day voyage thru the Bayous as we got an "inside view" of Cajun country and her people. A marvelous adventure...as we came face to face with a culture that is as unique as can be found anywhere.


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"HOW THE CRAWFISH CAME TO BE"

Many, many decades ago when the Acadians were still living in Nova Scotia, they were very close to their friends, the lobster.

For years the Acadians and the lobsters lived together happily.

One day an Acadian fisherman named Jean-Paul told his especially good friend the Lobster-King that the Acadians had been expelled from Nova Scotia because they refused to bow to the British Crown.

The Lobster-King went into the ocean and told the other lobsters the sad news. The lobsters decided they could not bear to be parted from their friends, the Acadians, so when the time came for the Acadians to leave, the lobsters would leave also and follow the Acadians to a new home.

The journey was long and hard, for both the Acadians and the lobsters. Many perished along the slow trek to the South.

Because of all the hardships they suffered during the journey, the lobsters lost weight and began to decrease in size. By the time the Acadians and the lobsters reached the beautifully serene swamplands of Louisiana where they decided to stay, the lobsters were barely six inches long and weighed only a few ounces.

The Acadians and the lobsters settled in the swamp and bayou areas of Louisiana happily.

Today the Acadians are known as CAJUNS and because the lobsters CRAWLED all the way from Nova Scotia to be with their friends, they are known as CRAWFISH.


By Davelynn Burch

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