Tommy

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Journal Entry __ I am a Seigneur named Jacques Francois. I am writing this diary to tell people what it’s like to be a seigneur and what they do everyday.I have retired from the military. I moved to New France for the Traditional Landholding system. I am a very wealthy, important citizen. My job is to get land from the king and provide it to the Habitants for money. Also, I provided the habitants with a flour mill and entertain visiting officials. The habitants pay me rent for the land and fees for the flour mill. Since there are a lot of arguments and fights going on, I also have to act as a judge. One of my most important job is to be faithful to the King, or else he will fire me. Most seigneur’s like me live in a manor house. The walls are made of field rubber, water-worn stones, bedded deeply in lime mortar. I find it very cozy to live in. Some of the furniture that is in my house is a wooden bed, wooden chairs, wooden table, and wooden desks. I like to grow my own fruits and vegetables from my own farm. Some of the fruits and vegetables I eat are apples, cucumbers, melons, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, beans, asparagus, onions, and peas. Some of the clothes I wore were made of animal skin which was used for outer wear, jackets made of bear and caribou skins. When I have free time I am expected to go to church regularly. So this is what it’s like to be a seigneur.

Today, I'm starting my road trip across New France. I first started out on my road trip meeting my good friend Jacques Carrier who is a Courier De Bois. Courier De Bois are illegal traders who come to New France to make money. I was lear n ing about how they trade and live. They spend time living with the natives and trading with them. They traded guns, alcohol, knives, and gun powder for animal fur, such as caribou, and mostly importantly beaver furs or hides. The natives and the Courier De Bois participated in the miracle of life. Also, Jacques told me about how he relies on fishing more than hunting. Later, I met his native wife and had a chat with her about her life. She told me that she does house work such as making food, cleaning, and taking care of the kids. She usually makes fish, greens, and apples. The Courier De Bois lived in a tent like structures. Later, I returned home to check on my house and and employees, Habitants. I visited one of employees. We started talking and we introduced each other, but i didn't catch his name. I didn't bother asking him. He told me about his life and how he takes care of his family. We started talking about his farm. He told me that we grows a lot of veggies and fruits. As we were walking around his farm, I realized that his house was made out of stone. I thought it looked very nice. The Habitants are expected to go to church regularly. Also the Habitants eat beans, bread, and a lot of vegetables.

Jacques Carrier Donoh Lee

BIBLIOGRAPHY
 * ​​Coope McBeth. __Daily Life:New France.__ Saskatchewan, Canada: Cornell University Press, 2002.


 * Brian Johnstone Williams. __Past Views:Habitant Life.__ Edmonton, Canada:Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 1981.
 * Douglas Baldwin. __New France and the Fur Trade.__ Alberta, Canada: Weigl Education Publishers Ltd, 2003..