At this type of meal the men ate, and the women waited upon them, being paid by the favor of a bite from time to time.[123] Eating was done from individual wooden bowls, with fingers or spoon, depending upon the consistency of the food.[124]
When one was away from home on a journey and not near enough to any settlement to go there for hospitality, he ate from his pouch of parched corn meal. This might be eaten quickly if he were in a hurry to be off again, by gulping down three spoonfuls of corn meal with some water. A more leisurely meal was one for which the traveler took the trouble to build a fire and cook the meal to eat it hot.[125]
Food seems to have been shared liberally with anyone who was around when people were eating, no matter what it was or how much there was at the time.[126]
Diet was one area in which the arrival of the Europeans seems not to have had much influence. Composition of the diet remained the same as it was aboriginally until the time of King Philip’s War.[127]
DRINK, DRUGS AND INDULGENCE
Prior to the arrival of the Europeans there was no knowledge of alcohol among the Indians of the New England area. Once introduced, however, it became a popular item of trade, and Indians learned how to produce it for themselves.[128]
The Wampanoags and their neighbors, however, did smoke the native American variety of tobacco, Nicotiana rustica.[129] This strong variety of tobacco would not be appealing to modern American tastes. The only place where it is used commercially today is in the USSR. In one instance at least—where the writer characterized the tobacco as weak—it is likely that some was mixed with other plant material preparatory to smoking.[130] Tobacco leaves were picked green, dried, crushed, and smoked in pipes.[131]
Tobacco was used frequently.[132] Smoking was a pleasant diversion. When friends met on the trail they would stop, smoke together, and talk.[133] Tobacco apparently also was used by women.[134] Besides being a refreshing indulgence, taking tobacco was thought to be a helpful remedy “... against the rheume, which causeth the toothake....”[135]
LEATHER, TEXTILES, FABRICS
Work in Skins: Most of the clothing worn by the Wampanoags was made from the skins of animals. Deerskin was an excellent material for clothing, since it was tough but thin enough to be made pliable, was large enough to be used with a minimum of piecing, and was readily available in the environment. Moose hide was used for similar purposes, but being heavier it was perhaps more popular for making shoes.[136]