Stephanie

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**//__Jacob Marquis'__//**
Dear diary, Today is the day I must go back to France. It has been two years since I arrived here in New France. I am quite dreading going back to France seeing as New France is much better. When I came from France I was homeless, in debt and I badly needed to start a new life. When I first came over I did not approve of the way the government was run, so myself and others become illegal fur traders with the local Indians to get by. We are also known as the Coureurs de Bois. When the Coureurs de bois and I go trading we must take little supplies to leave room for the furs we receive, since we only travel by canoe. Even though we can only carry a certain amount of food which usually includes peas, corn and biscuits, we can still hunt good food such as fish and reindeer to feast on. When we are not on our trading adventures we live with the local natives. It is hard not for all of us to have adopted the natives customs such as the lifestyle and survival ways, seeing as they have survived in the wilderness for all of these years. Some of us even have chosen to take several native women as their wives. A few even have children now, which the natives call the Metis. Metis is a mix between European back ground and Native background. A few of the native wives are very helpful when it comes to directions and routes most help us find our way. For the past few days I have been able to enjoy my favourite recreational activities with my colleagues such as gambling, drinking and smoking, Activities which no Coureurs de Bois can take part of during trading due to lack of money until the fur is traded. Once we spend most of our earnings we usually go back to trading to make more money to do the whole process over again. Well it looks like it is about time I start packing, I will write tomorrow!

Sincerely, Jacob Marquis

Dear Diary, Today while on my normal trading route with my canoe partner Jose Chevalier, we came across a group of unknown men. One of whom quite interested me. His name was Dominique Olympe, and he is a fur trader that legally trades with the Native Americans and works for the government. His job is quite similar to my own although he works for the government. Dominique even showed us how to make ale, which is a very helpful skill we can use in the trade. Dominique mentioned how we were considered outlaws and most voyageurs like himself were frightened of the Coureurs de bois seeing as we are illegal traders. Once he got to know us he had a completely different opinion. Well it looks like the native peoples I am currently living with are making food so I better hurry before it is all gone, I am quite sick of the peas and biscuits I normaly have to eat.

Sincerely, Jacob Marquis

Bibliography:

Harold Horwood, "The Colonial Dream," Canada's Illustrated Heritage, Toronto, 1978 James H. Marsh, "The Fur Trade": Collier- Macmillan Canada. Ltd. Ontario 1971 Stewart K. Dicks, "Canadiana Scrapbook: Les Canadiens: The French in Canada 1600-1867," Prentice-Hall of Canada Ltd. Scarborough, 1980