USA > Massachusetts > Dukes County > The Wampanoag Indian tribute tribes of Martha's Vineyard : the story of the Capowacks of Nope, the Takemmy-Wampanoags, the Nunpaug-Wampanoags, the Aquinnah-Wampanoags of Catachukutcho (Gay Head tribe), the Chappaquiddick-Wampanoags > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
Papoaumsuog, commonly known as Frost Fish, often cast themselves upon. the shore during frost or snow. The Wampanoags would comb the beaches at night, torch in hand, and pick up stranded fish by the hundreds. This type of fishing was called Quansett: "the place we go to pick up fish in torch light."
It would be an error to assume that their fishing habits were confined to such haphazard methods. They used some ingenuous methods and exploited nature quite well.
At the narrowest outlet of a salt pond or marsh they built stone walls that nearly met at an angle. At this site they placed a large. cage-like trap made from pliable willow whips which were attached to hoops made of pine or oak. The stone walls directed the fish, which were swimming into the tidal basins, into this trap where they were taken in great quantity.
To prevent the fish from being carried out by the receding waters, they built a system of reeds, six or eight feet long, matted together with thongs of grass. This net was stretched across the mouth of the inlet at high tide. When the water passed through with the running tide, the fish were left behind and easily taken with spears or nets.
The whale was not unknown to the early inhabitants. One observer noted this: "Of the whales, which they call Potop, which I have seene Some of them, but not above sixtie foot long: The Natives cut them out in severall parcells, and give and send farre and neere for the acceptable present, or dish."
According to early historians the waters and inlets of the island attracted a large fish which they called Kauposh. It is believed by some authorities that this fish is known now as the striped bass. Others say it was the sturgeon. Roger Williams, a contemporary observer, said, "Divers part of the Countrey abound with this fish; yet the natives for the goodnesse and greatness of it, much prize it and will neither furnish the English with so many, not so cheape, that any great trade is like to be made of it, until the English themselves are fit to follow the fishing. The Natives venture one or two in a Canow; Sometimes they take them by their nets, which they make strong of hemp. " The "Canow" referred to was a dugout that was made to carry from six to twenty men.
Water fowl did not escape the skill and cunning of the islanders. The gullible birds were lured by the light of a pine torch carried by a beach-walker at night. The torchbearer killed the light-blind birds with a club. A companion collected them.
Gulls were easy prey. Gull houses were built by placing crotched
[ 21 ]
Photo courtesy Dr. Maurice Robbiss Mass. Archaeological Society
Wampanoag Hafted stone ax, only second one of its kind to be found intact with original shaft. It was uncovered from the tidal flats off Penikese Island close to Martha's Vineyard by Eugene S. Magarida. It is now the property of the Bronson Indian Museum of Attleboro, Mass.
-
Some fine arrow heads from the Manwaring collection that were found at Chappaquiddick.
{ 22 ]
sticks. On the roof of this crude trap large pieces of fish flesh were placed. Concealing himself within the gull house, the hunter waited till the greedy birds were busily eating the bait, whereupon he cau- tiously reached through the roof and drew them in one by one.
Ducks were called "Quequecum." This water fowl was hunted with bow and arrow. The Turkey, Heathen, Goose, and Crane were hunted with the assistance of baited nets which were hung in likely habitat of these fowl.
Roger Williams noted that, "The Indians of Martins Vineyard, at my late being amongst them, report generally, and confidently of som Ilands, which lie off from them to Sea, from whence every morning early, certain Fowles come and light amongst them, and returne at Night to lodging, which Iland or Ilands are not yet discovered, though probably, by other Reasons they give, there is Land, etc."
TOOLS
The Wampanoag was a sure and cunning hunter for he knew all the habits of his quarry. In hunting the upland game, both fowl and animal, the Indian employed the aid of traps or snares but whenever necessary he could use with deadly accuracy and skill his ever-present bow and arrow.
When the first white settlers arrived upon the scene, they found the Indians of the island living in the crude confines of the stone age. The Wampanoag's tools and implements were all ingenuously fashioned from stone, shell, bone or wood that was readily available within the local- ity. He laboriously made the tools with which he turned out the neces- sary implements of his livelihood.
Many of these stone artifacts such as drills, knives, arrowheads and points of many sizes and shapes are uncovered to this very day by keen-eyed searchers. The Duke's County Historical Society of Edgartown and the Gay Head Indian Museum have excellent collections of these stone artifacts.
Bows
The Wampanoag's bow was fashioned in different sizes and was made from native wood that was easily obtainable. Red cedar made excellent bows as it was light in the hand insuring sweetness of cast. It had a considerable degree of elasticity and toughness. Its only drawback was that this wood became brittle with age; and, being light and soft it required more bulk to make a bow of any given weight or drawing power.
Next to red cedar, it seems that the Wampanoag preferred white ash which was tough, fairly elastic and not too heavy. The second-growth wood was finer-grained and tougher but not so elastic as the first growth. A bow made from a fairly fine-grained piece of old growth would usually retain its shape better and cast with more force than one made of second growth. Next to ash came the wood of the hickory shrub. Each Indian had his own personal choice and pride in wood for his bow.
{ 23 ]
A fine collection of stone arrow heads found on Martha's Vineyard by Mr. J. Man- waring. All were recovered within the last two years (1958-1960).
[ 24 ]
The wood of his choice was oftentimes obtained through trade with a mainland Indian.
There were two requisites of a good bow, namely toughness and elasticity. Hickory had the toughness but not the elasticity. Therefore, it tended to remain bent when the bow was unstrung; and, consequently, had not much cast, although occasionally a suitable piece was found and used.
For the cord of his bow, the Wampanoag Indian used the sinews of the deer, or cords made from flax that was twisted and fashioned by the squaws. It will be interesting to note here that this fiber made from flax when woven into mats that the Indian hung over his door or adapted for clothing was called by name of "Tuit", and sections where it was found in abundance still to this day hold this name.
Arrowheads
To make the arrow head or whatever point desired, first the proper stone material was obtained in a small block form. This was buried in wet earth over which a fire was burned. In this way the stone was first sweated so that all the cracks and checks in the stone would be brought to light in order that no unnecessary labor be performed on a piece too badly cracked to be of any worth.
Once the block of stone proved to be workable, the Indian would place it between his knees and commence to strike off small triangular chips with light sharp blows of a small stone hammer. As the workmen knocked off the chips, the block would be turned until it was too small to be chipped further. He would then collect and sort all the chips flaked off and place them into two piles; those he rejected, and those he thought workable. His next step would be to take a likely chip to fashion into an arrowhead or spear point.
First he would cover his left palm with a pad of buckskin as a protector while holding the sharp flake. Over his right hand he would slip another piece of tanned hide similar to that of the sailmaker's palm and used for the same purpose. Against his palm the Wampanoag craftsman placed the head of a small tool made either of stone, deer or elk horn, or just plain animal bone. This tool was about four inches long and by deftly pressing its point against the side of the piece of flint, slate, or whatever stone he used, the Indian would flake off one little chip of the stone and then another close to it, thereby passing along the edge of the unformed stone until one side of it was straight; and, then along the other.
So clever were most of the Wampanoags at this point-chipping that they seemed to work without much care and with much speed until they neared the point, for this was a delicate place, and carelessness or haste here might endanger the arrowhead. If its point was broken it would be of no value and had to be thrown away. Sometimes an unseen check would cause the head to break off.
{ 25 }
Photo courtesy Mr. J. Manwaring
This photo shows representative stone artifacts from the collection of Mr. J. Man- waring, a Medfield, Mass. business man and amateur archaeologist who recovered all these various points on Martha's Vineyard.
{ 26 ]
After the arrowhead was shaped there remained some thin projecting edges which marred its symmetry and added nothing to the point's effect- iveness. To these a little pressure was added or a sharp blow with a lighter tool soon shapped it into the neatness desired.
The arrow and spear points were of many different sizes and patterns. Some of the arrow heads were similar to small acute triangles with all edges thin and sharp. Others had narrow grooves on both sides near the base around which the thongs were placed when hafting the point to the wooden shaft. There were blunt-point arrows that were used in the kill- ing of small birds or game. With these, the Indian merely stunned his quarry and captured them without injuring the flesh.
Some arrowheads were roughly triangular in shape, but most had a short shank for attachement to the shaft. This shank, or the middlepart of the short side of the triangle, was set into a notch in the shaft and was fastened by a glue made from pitch or the hooves of the deer, elk, r moose. It was then made additionally secure by whipping in place the fine thong or sinew-strings that were put on when wet.
It appeared that the natives of the Island made use of material near at hand which they could easily obtain. Oftentimes, they would trade stone material with their mainland friends. It is known that the Wampanoag used a great deal of quartz in its various forms as it is a crystalline formation and is not easy to chip into a specified shape. It is very hard and made excellent points. The Island Indian also used a great deal of slate. When obtainable, flint or chalcedony in their different forms were ideal materials for the making of stone implements. Flint is of nearly the same composition as quartz but it is not crys- talline in form; and, therefore, can be chipped to a required design without difficulty.
Flint is just about as hard as quartz and has played an important role in the development of civilization. From the various stones that they gathered or traded the Wampanoags were able to fashion spearheads, tomahawks, axes, and other tools. When the desired shapes were ob- tained, the finished tool was smoothed and polished by rubbing it upon a suitable stone.
It is also interesting to note that sawing was accomplished by means of thongs, sand, and water; the same principle used by more modern stonecutting.
Arrow Shafts
The selection of the shaft was very important. It had to be straight, strong and heavy. Year-old shoots of the dogwood, cherry and ash were the most popular woods. The length and thickness varied with the whims of each tribe, as did the manner of feathering, hafting, etc.
After the arrow shafts were cut and scraped free from bark, they were bound together in bundles and hung up to dry in the wetu where it was warm. When partly seasoned, they were taken down and picked over. Those which were not entirely straight were handled and bent back into shape, and the bundle was then hung up again for seasoning.
{ 27 ]
This photo shows interesting stone artifacts of probable archaic origin recovered at the Vineyard by Mr. J. Manwaring. Note fishing weight at upper right and large point in center foreground.
{ 28 ]
-
X
--
SLATE ARTIFACTS From the Manwaring collection recovered on Martha's Vineyard.
{ 29 ]
Photo courtesy Mr. J. Manwaring
Pestles and other stone artifacts recovered on Martha's Vineyard. Note small paint (box) stone at lower right and fish line and net weights at center and upper right.
{ 30 }
When the shaft had been properly seasoned, it was brought down to the proper thickness by scraping it with a bit of flint or a knife. Often a slab of grooved sandstone was used for this purpose. If lined grooves were required on the shaft, it was simply passed through a hole bored in the rib of a vertebra's dorsal spine. Sometimes, this was done, also, by applying pressure with the teeth in which the wood was held while being bent. It is said that some Indians used this groove in their arrows' shafts in order to facilitate the flow of blood and the arrow's entrance into the flesh, also.
The feathers of the Wampanoag Indian's arrow were usually only three in number, put on with pitch or glue, and wound above and below with sinew. The notch for the bowstring was deep and in the same plane with the arrow's head.
It was said that the most important and proudest possession of all Wampanoag Indians was his bow and arrows. They were always carried in a bow case and quiver, fastened together, and slung over the shoul- der. The cover of these was often the skin of the otter.
The Stone Ax and Spear
The stone ax was a simple weapon. The axehead was usually of soft stone, ground down to an edge, and a groove was worked out at right angles to its length, so that the green withe by which it was fastened to the handle should not slip off. Over this, green rawhide sinew was sewed to further assist in fastening. Sometimes this green rawhide was extended to cover the handle, too.
The maul or battle ax was made of a grooved oval stone, fastened to a handle in the same way as the axe. The club had a long handle and carried a small stone no larger than a man's fist.
The spearhead was made of stone in the same manner as that employed in making the arrowhead. It was lashed to a long shaft with a sinew or with wet rawhide strings.
APPEARANCE AND DRESS
The earliest European visitors to the Island of Nope were undoubt- edly stunned by the appearance of the Indian villages and their strange customs. But nothing was so strange to them as was the dress and physical appearance of the Wampanoag Islanders.
Breteron described the women in the following manner: "Their women such as we saw, were built low of stature, their eyebrows, hair, apparel, and manner of wearing like the men; fat and well favored, and did much delight our company." Joselyn said of the men: "The men are somewhat horse-faced, and generally faucious without beards, but the women of them, many of them have very good features seldom without 'come-to-me' in their countenance. All of them black eyed and short teeth and very white; their hair was black, thick and long, broad
{ 31 ]
breasted; handsome, straight bodies, and slender, considering their loose habits; their limbs cleanly, straight and of convenient stature ... generally plump as partridges; and saving here and there one of modest deportment."
Bartholomew Gosnold settled in the Cuttyhunk area and oftentimes visited the Island. One of his crew members, Gabriel Archer, had this to say about the Wampanoag Brave: "These people as they are excep- tionally courteous, gently of disposition and well condition, excell all other people of America, of stature much higher than we; a com- plexion of color much like dark olive. Their eyebrows and hair black, which they wear long tied behind in a knot whereupon they prick feathers of fowl, in fashion of a crownette, some of them are black thin bearded. They make beards of hair of beasts; and one of them offered a beard of their making for that of one of our sailors, for his that grew on his face, which because it was red color they judged it to be none of their own. They were quick-eyed and steadfast in their looks, fearless of other harms, as intending none themselves."
Some of the young warriors wore their hair long on one side of the head and short on the other. Many shaved their heads bare except for a long scalp lock. During occasions of importance, or time of war, the faces of the men were painted in various lines of color. As a preventive against insect bites, they covered all exposed parts of their bodies with animal grease and walnut oil mixed with the ground red bark of pine or powdered red earth which they called Mishquock.
The juice of berries, plants, roots, and soils, gave them a variety of other colors. Wompi was white; Mowisucki, black; Msqui, red; Wesaui (ousa), yellow; Askasi, green; and Peshaui, blue.
They commonly decorated moose and deerskin summerwear with a variety of colors and embroidery of painted quills and beads. Strings of wampum (wampampeag) beads were used by the Islander primarily for ornamentation.
A piece of deerskin, "Which is but a peece of cloth a yard and a halfe long, put between their groinings tied with a snake skinne about their middle, one end hanging downe with a flap before, the other like a taile behind," was called a Petunk.
In the winter they added to this apron a pair of deerskin trousers or leggings and carried over their shoulder a hide or fur, with the fur side close to their skin and draped and shifted to the side of their body exposed to the prevailing wind of the moment. The women's dress was a deerskin skirt and blouse. The shoes of both male and female, which they called "mocussinas, " were made of tanned deerskin well tempered with animal grease.
Roger Williams gives the following account of the appearance of the early inhabitants. His observations were titled, "Of their Nakednesse and Clothing; They have a Twofold Nakednesse.
[ 32 ]
"First ordinary and constant, when although they have a Beasts skin, or an English mantle on, yet that covers ordinarily but their hinder parts and all the foreparts from top to toe, (except their secret parts, covered with a little Apron, after the patterns of their and our First Parents) I say all else open and naked.
"Their male children goe starke naked, and have no Apron untill they come to ten or twelve yeeres of age; their Female they, in modest blush cover with a little Apron of an hand breadth from their very birth.
"Many of them had a coat or Mantle, called Neyhomm (auashunck), curiously made of the fairest feathers of their Neyhommauog, or Turkies, which commonly their old men make; and is with them as Velvet with us.
"Their second nakednesse is when their men often abroad, and both men and women within doores, leave off their beasts skin, or English cloth and so (excepting their little Apron) are wholly naked; yet but few of the women but will keepe their skin or cloth (though loose) or neare to them ready to gather it up about them.
"Custome hath used their minds and bodies to it, and in such a freedom from any wantonesse, that I have never seen that wantonesse amongst them, as, (with griefe) I have heard of in Europe."
It may be appropriate to mention here that Polygamy was accepted but not generally practiced amongst the Island Wampanoags. Marriage was solemnized by consent of parents, the Sachem, and public approba- tion. The bride's family always offered up a dowry. If they were poor, relations or others were expected to contribute toward it.
Adultery was considered the most cardinal sin. The offended party had the right to revenge upon the offender, "before many witnesses by many blowes and wounds, and if it be to death, yet the guilty resists not, nor is his Death revenged. Single Fornication they count no sin, but after Marriage then they count it hainous for either of them to be false;" so said Roger Williams.
GAMES AND AMUSEMENTS
The Indians of Nope were a comparatively peaceful and gregarious group of people. Their dances, games, and other amusements were similar to those of their brethren on the mainland. Mr. William Wood in his "New England Prospect" has handed down an interesting and long account of these games and pastimes.
Mr. Wood describes an Indian Football Game. "Their Goales be a mile long placed on the sands, which are as even as a board; their ball is no bigger than a handball, which sometimes they mount in the Aire with their naked feete, sometimes it is swayed by the multitude; Sometimes also it is two days before they get a Goale, then they marke the ground they winne, and beginne there the next day. Before they
{ 33 ]
come to this sport, they paint themselves, even as they goe to warre, in pollicie to prevent future mischiefe, because no man should know him that moved his patience or accidentally hurt his person, taking away the occasion of studying revenge. Before they begin their armes be disordered and hung upon some neighboring tree, after which they make a long scrowle on the sand, over which they shake loving hands, and with laughing hearts scuffle for victorie. While the men play the boys pipe, and the women dance and sing trophies of their husbands conquests; all being done, a feast summons their departure. It is most delight to see them play, in smaller companies, when men may view their swift footmanship, their curious tossing's of the ball, their flouncing into the water, their lubberlike wrestling, having no cunning at all in that kind, one English being able to beate ten Indians at Football. "
Platter, or dice, was the second most popular game. This sport was played at times for large stakes, possessions, service or servitude; and, sometimes whole villages changed hands as a result of this gam- bling. Roger Williams best describes the game as follows: "They have a kind of dice which are plumb stones painted, which they cast in a tray with a mighty noise and swearing. Their publique games are sol- emnized with the meeting of hundreds; sometimes thousands, and consists of many varieties, none of which I durst ever be present at that I might not countenance and partake of their folly after I once saw the evill of them. The Chiefe Gamesters amongst them much desire to make their Gods side with them .... therefore I have seen them keep as a precious stone a piece of Thunderbolt, which like unto a Chrystall, which they dig out of the ground under some tree, Thunder Smitten, and from this stone they have an opinion of successe, and I have not heard of any of these prove losers, which I conceived may be Satans policie, and God's Holy Justice to harden them for their not rising higher from the Thunderbolt, to the God that sends or shoots it.
"Their Arbor or Play House is made of long poles set in the Earth, four square, sixteen or twentie foot hight, on which they hang great store of their possessions, have great staking towne against towne, and two chosen from the rest by course to play the Game at this kind d Dice, in the midst of all their abettors, with great shouting and sol- emnity: Beside they have great meetings of foot-ball playing, onely in summer, towne against towne, upon some broad sandy shoare, free from stones or upon some soft heathie plot because of their naked feet at which they have great stakings, but seldome quarell. "
Their dances were nearly of all the same basic steps and antics with specific changes made depending on the mood, cause, or relation d the particular event or God being offered or honored.
GOVERNMENT AND RELIGION
The government of each tribute tribe was patterned after that of the Royal Tribe. The Royal Village of the Wampanoag Indian Federation was situated in the section of the Pokanoket country called Sowams, which is now the town of Warren, Rhode Island.
[ 34 ]
The Wampanoag government was monarchial with succession to the Sachemship by birthright alone, with no discrimination in sex.
The following was taken from Roger Williams: "Beside their generall subjection to the highest Sachim, to whom they carry presents; they have also particular Protectors, under Sachims, to whom they also carry presents, and upon any injury received, and complaint made, these Protectors will revenge it.
"The Sachims, although they have an absolute Monarchie over the people; yet they will not conclude of ought that concernes all, either Lawes, or Subsides, or warres, unto which the people are averse, and by gentle perswasion cannot be brought."
Within the tribes, there were three separate castes of class dis- tinction. First, were the Sachims and their families. Next in order, were the Panseis, Esteemed Warriors, Warriors, and their families. Finally, the Sannops and their families filled the lower ranks. These were prisoners and offspring taken into the tribe by adoption. The Sannops had no voice in affairs of the tribe.
The Capowacks, as their mainland brethren, were a genuinely re- ligious people. They believed in numerous Gods, but Kautantowwit was the greatest. of them all. It was believed that he made all. It was from his house that all good came, and to his house that all souls returned. It was he who first gave them their corn and beans -- the main staple of their food.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.