Chapter VII: A French Canadian Village

Life at Murray Bay after Captain Nairne's death.--Letters from Europe.--Death of Malcolm Fraser.--Death of Colonel Nairne's widow and children.--His grandson John Nairne, seigneur.--Village Life.--The Church's Influence.--The Habitant's tenacity.--His cottage.--His labours.--His amusements.--The Church's missionary work in the Village.--The powers of the bishop.--His visitations.--The organization of the Parish.--The powers of the _fabrique_.--Lay control of Church finance.--The curés' tithe.--The best intellects enter the Church.--A native Canadian clergy.--The curé's social life.--The Church and Temperance Reform.--The diligence of the curés.--The habitant's taste for the supernatural.--The belief in goblins.--Prayer in the family.--The habitant as voter.--The office of Churchwarden.--The Church's influence in elections.--The seigneur's position.--The habitant's obligations to him.--Rent day and New Year's Day.--The seigneur's social rank.--The growth of discontent in the villages.--The evils of Seigniorial Tenure.--Agitation against the system.--Its abolition in 1854.--The last of the Nairnes.--The Nairne tomb in Quebec. 168

CHAPTER VIII

THE COMING OF THE PLEASURE SEEKERS

Pleasure seeking at Murray Bay.--A fisherman's experience in 1830.--New visitors.--Fishing in a mountain lake.--Camp life.--The Upper Murray.--Canoeing.--Running the rapids.--Walks and drives.--Golf.--A rainy day.--The habitant and his visitors. 222

AUTHORITIES 243

APPENDICES

APPENDIX A (p. 31) The Journal of Malcolm Fraser,
First Seigneur of Mount Murray,
Malbaie. 249

APPENDIX B (p. 38) Title Deed of the Seigniory of
Murray Bay, granted to Captain
John Nairne. 271

APPENDIX C (p. 78) The Siege of Quebec in 1775-76.
Colonel Nairne's Narrative. 273

APPENDIX D (p. 98) Memorandum of Colonel Nairne,
5th April, 1795, for his son
John Nairne in regard to
military duty. 277

APPENDIX E (p. 104) The "Porpoise" (Beluga or
White Whale) Fishery on the
St. Lawrence. 279

APPENDIX F (p. 122) The Prayer of Colonel Nairne. 286