The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1905-09-30
NUMBER 5SI

i''' i''t'N ~ ~ ''f'tl f''4 4-I !'iLst1' HAS
been given by me in my Acadjau
"reminiscences.
There the different Acadiau fam
lies separated to settle on lands
donated to them hy the govern
ment, they were the LeBlancs, the ,
Martins, the brouSSards, the Gnjl !
beauX, the ArceneauX, the Babius
the BreauXs, the RobicheauxS,
the ilebertS. the Dugas, the Ian
drys IN the Melancon4 Most of
these families settled along the
Tcche, and soon they had cleared
their lands and built comfortable
homes, Laborious and honest,
economical and orderly in their
IaitanS. they lived contented with
what little they had They soon
enriched themselves, and became
the leading planters ana citizens
OF the country.
The population had increased
largely, and the country was now
highly prosperous. It's commerce
, had acquired certain Importance
and was carried on, mainly, with
barges through The numerous
lakes and bayous which lead to
the Mississippi Hiver-The pro
prietors OF these barges had their
own landing places called port0ges
There were, at that period, sever
al of these joTt0grN in the district,
the principal OF which were the
portage Guidry, the portage Cypre
mort, the portage Savage The
travellers going to the city of New
Orleans embarked ut these places
on the barges already laden with
the products of the district.
A trip to the city, III those days,
was no small affair, as it required
at least six weeks to effect it.
The travellers had to provide
| themselves with whatever was
necessary for their comfort during
the voyage. They had their
tents and provisions, their cooks
and their servants-The putfoHs or
masters of the barges assumed no
responsibility other than that of
transporting their passengers safe
ly to their place of destination.
No travelling was done during the
night. Toward sunset, the barge
was safely moored to the embank
ment OF the river or lake on
which they happened to be; the
tents were pitched. and the long
hours of the night were whiled
away in the best possible manner.
Whenever the current was too
swift and strong, the barges were
pulled slowly along with ropes,
and it required hours Of that
tedious work, to advance a few
miles-as can be well imagined
travelling in those DAYS was no
} little concern, and none but the
wealthy could afford the luxury of
, trip to New Orleans
Numerous farms now dotted the
. right banks of the Teche; it was
, considered unsafe to cultivate the
} lands on the east side of the
stream, as they were exposed to
) annual over hows-Indigo, rice,
5 tobacco and cotton were cultiva
q ted successfulIy-The intercourse
l between the settlers had assumed
I that feature of politeness and ur
$ banity which characterizes the
r French people. The advent Of
D several Cadets of the noble fdmi
l lies of France and of Spain con
t Blancs, the Delahoussayes, the
/, Delacroix, the Devezins, the D9
Q clOuets and many others who took
a conspicuous part in the affairs
o of the country and occupied the
n first posts in the District.
e The country was now prosper
t ing more than ever under the
d paternal dominion of Spain-The
t government granted lands with a
G princely llberality to such rs
it were deserving of tho Kings
lr bounty and the administration,
d by its vlgilant care and by just
y and equitable enforcement of the
II laws, protected it's subjects il
ir their lives and in their property
ID which now had become valuable
I'd aud productive-Such was th'
or prosperous and healthy condition
ut of affairs in the Attakapas Region