David

Diary of Jean de Pierre (1) Year 1637 Weather: Dry Today is the hundredth day of my being a seignior. I’m really happy to get involved in the **traditional landholding system of New France** and I will try my best to help my tenants. Most of my land was in turn granted to tenants who farmed it and they are known as the habitants. Me? I was originally a **soldier** who made many contributions to the kingdom and the king now assigned me to be the **leader of the community.** My duty is heavy because everyone’s **surviva**l depends on being able to bring in a **good harvest**. Talking about the habitants, they have to give me part of their crops as they rent due to **the contributions I made to the community (also the fish they catch and the woods they chop).** The habitants admit of the presence of me and thank me for assisting **the land**. I still remember when my habitants cheered in happiness after the decision of dividing the land into rows was made. They listen to me, and will **perform certain tasks** I ask them to do such as farming and hunting. However, to be honest, the seigniorial system made me rich, but the tenants poor because they always have to lend goods to me. A good thing is that habitants under my rules appear to be **more independent** than the habitants in France and fortunately they **make extra money on selling woods and furs**. We, the first settlers, are having a difficult task of clearing the land so that we can grow enough food to feed ourselves. **The growing season is short and the timing of each farming step is very important**; if the crops aren’t planted at the right time, then my habitants get nothing to eat and **will die in the food shortage**. The king will criticize me, maybe even kill me. Moreover, there are some other duties I need to perform as well such as d**efending the territory; clearing of the land, settling disputes**, etc. I will talk more of my experience next day.

(2)

Year 1637 Weather: Rainy Today is very rainy and I had only a little clothing on me. Seemingly I get the best treatment of the land; in fact I am doing the toughest job as well. I care the most for my tenants, although I may be wearing luxurious apparel like hand-made mats and skirt made of bear furs. I don’t like the wear them because my habitants might get jealous at me. Despite that, I have just acquired the **king's order** today and look like that I have to **build a manor** for myself. I will be reluctant for having such a **better life** with much **higher quality of furniture**. I took a little walk on the street and saw Elaine Olivier, who is my most diligent working farmer, is feeding the pigs. I greeted her and she simply told me that life here in New France is difficult. The same old favourites recur year in and year out  because the rest of her life is always occupied by cultivation. Anyways, I had no idea of how to help them because it is the king’s decision after all. The habitants gave the consent to me of building a mill so that they could grind their meat into flour, which is a good thing because they needn’t go the market and seek for food anymore; they can make it themselves. Another thing is that I just found out **that St.Lawrence River is a great source** because it provides an **easy means of transportation**. Now tenants can be able to travel across the river without any difficulty. The fully developed supplies will enhance the step of a much stronger New France, and I estimate that the habitants will grow enough food by the year of 1700. Jaque Clouso is a seigneur like me as well and I believe that If we work together there will be a better New France some day. hope my habitants can be happy every day.

Sources :3 1. by: Marshall Jamieson 2. Baldwin, Douglas. / 2003. Print/ Calgary, Alberta, Canada/ Weigl Education Publishers Ltd./ 3.  Fitzhenry and whiteside/1976. Print/ 4. http://www.canadianheritage.org/books/canada3.htm / Daily life in New France 5. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/life-in-new-france.html / Life in New France