The Wampanoags in the seventeenth century : $b An ethnohistorical survey — John Shaqi
The Wampanoags in the seventeenth century : $b An ethnohistorical surveyMarten, Catherine
History
The Wampanoags in the seventeenth century : $b An ethnohistorical survey
Marten, Catherine
Indians of North America -- New England -- History -- 17th century; Wampanoag Indians
Skin capes were a common item of clothing for both sexes.[184]
Women’s capes, about twice as long as those worn by men, are
reported to have hung down behind like a train.[185] Capes for
summer wear were of deerskin—either worn hair side out or made of
de-haired skins. For winter wear the hair was left on and turned
to the inside.[186] The skins of Beaver, otter, racoon, bear,
and fox—the smaller ones being sewed together—were also used for
winter mantles.[187] Mantles made of turkey feathers were mentioned
previously.[188]
Champlain reported that Indians on Cape Cod (probably Nauset) wore
capes woven of grass and hemp fibers.[189] These extended to the
thighs and may have been worn in summer as a protection against
insects. Or, perhaps they were for special occasions. One fragment
of such a mantle, excavated along with a burial near Manchester,
Massachusetts, was made of twilled bast fiber.[190] The lower edge of
the garment was fringed.[191]
The skin mantle was usually worn passed under the right arm, brought
over the left shoulder, and the two ends fastened.[192] For traveling
or other activity the garment was bound tight against the body with
a belt.[193] In very cold weather the exposed arm was covered with a
detachable fur sleeve which was tied on.[194] In the absence of the
sleeve, the mantle might be allowed to hang loose, and the wearer
alternately cover whichever shoulder was exposed to the wind as he
walked.[195]
Both men and women wore moccasins. The preferred material for these
was moose hide, but in its absence, deerskin served.[196] Everyone
went barefoot in the summer, but they usually carried their moccasins
slung on their backs in case of having to travel over very rough
ground.[197]
Contact with Europeans brought changes in the style and the material
of some Indians’ clothing. Indians were encouraged to adopt English
styles of dress as part of the process of their conversion to
Christianity. Many, however, found the European style of clothing
a nuisance. Wood says: “... their chief reasons they render why
they will not conforme to our English apparell, are, because their
women cannot wash them when they bee soyled, and their means will
not reach to buy new when they have done with their old; and they
confidently beleeve, the English will not be so liberall as to
furnish them upon gifture: therefore they had rather goe naked than
be lousie....”[198] Often, articles of English clothing were worn
for special occasions.[199] Some Indians began selling all their
skins to European traders and using cloth to make their traditional
garments.[200] The cloth which they preferred was a blanket material
called “duffils” or “trucking cloth”.[201] Whatever the style and
material of their clothing, however, the Wampanoags preferred to wear
only the loincloth when they were in their own houses.[202]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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