Gumbo File

First, it will be necessary to explain here, for the benefit of many, that “File” is a powder manufactured by the remaining tribe of Choctaw Indians in Louisiana, from the young and tender leaves of the Sassafras. The Indian squaws gather the leaves and spread them out on a stone mortar to dry. When thoroughly dried, they pound them into a fine powder, pass them through a hair sieve, and then bring the “File” to New Orleans to sell, coming twice a week to the French Market, from the old res