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
A great deal of emphasis was placed upon dreams.[536] A Wampanoag
who wanted supernatural help could seek a dream in which one of the
animal spirits would appear to him and agree to help him, often by
becoming his guardian spirit.[537] He would then call upon this
supernatural helper throughout his life for whatever aid its power
enabled it to give. Crows and rabbits in particular represented
animal spirits, and they were not supposed to be killed.[538]
Powows also had animal spirits that they obtained through dreams.
Either the animal itself or the kind of supernatural power that the
animal had (it is not possible to tell which from existing data) came
to dwell within the powow. He could then send this spirit out to do
his bidding.[539] Usually there were several such animal spirits
dwelling within one powow.[540]
Also part of the supernatural world were the ghosts of the dead. They
lingered near the camps of the living and caused trouble, often in
the form of illness.[541]
The Wampanoags also had anthropomorphic supernaturals. One of these
was Kiehtan, a high god who was responsible for the creation of the
world and all in it, and who could influence the prosperity of the
Wampanoags. He was called upon for plenty, victory, and general
favor in various undertakings. His home was in the southwest, the
place where spirits of the good went upon death.[542] According to
some accounts this was also the place where other kinds of spirits
lived.[543]
Another supernatural was Hobomock (Abamacho). The Europeans
immediately identified this being with the Devil, because he had an
association with snakes, seemed to be able to cause harm to people,
and was often feared. Actually, he seems to have been capable of
both help and harm; his role in the supernatural pantheon is not
at all clear. Hobomock would actually appear to the more important
Wampanoags, taking the form of an animal or bird, and most frequently
a snake. He was called upon in time of sickness to cure people. One
never dared to call upon Kiehtan in time of illness for fear it might
have been he in the first place who sent the sickness as punishment.
If the illness was sent by Kiehtan, however, Hobomock could not cure
it.[544]
Mythology had it that people were made by Kiehtan (Kautantowwit). He
first made a man and a woman out of stone, but, as he did not like
them, he broke them into many pieces and proceeded to make another
man and woman out of a tree. These he liked, and their progeny
populated the earth.[545] Corn and beans were brought by the crow,
who carried in one ear a kernel of corn and in the other a bean,
which he had gotten from the field belonging to Kiehtan.[546]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account