The few observations that were recorded suggest that the Wampanoags had a high birth rate and rather high infant mortality.[453] The high number of infant deaths may have been due in part to the fact that within three days after its birth the baby was being carried about on the mother’s back in all the tasks that she went about outside.[454] Moreover, the Wampanoag style of cradle board made no provision for a device to shield the infant’s face.[455]
A baby’s clothing consisted of a coating of grease and a beaver skin or other fur wrapping in which he was bound onto the cradle board. The child was tied so that his knees were drawn up against his stomach, then when the board was set down and leaned somewhere he would be in a sitting position.[456]
Babies were soothed by the lullabies of their mothers.[457] It is said that they were generally very quiet infants and cried little. The Wampanoags were extremely fond of their children, giving them a great deal of indulgence and affection.[458] Infants were not weaned until they were over a year old.[459] Such child-rearing practices resulted in children that were “sawcie, bold, and undutifull”, according to English eyes.[460]
EDUCATION
Education was probably for the most part informal. Children learned their adult roles by watching adult activities and by being encouraged in their attempts to copy. Such practical skills for survival as swimming were taught at an early age.[461] Little boys played at shooting toy bows and arrows.[462] Girls played with miniature cooking pots, and they also participated in the work of planting and tending the fields as soon as they were old enough.[463]
An education in the beliefs and values of the Wampanoag people was gained in part by listening to the stories told by parents and grandparents.[464]
INITIATION
The transition of young Wampanoags into adult status was marked by special observances. Boys and girls both underwent initiation ceremonies; there is almost no information of the nature of these observances for females.[465] For boys it was a lengthy process to finally achieve recognition as an adult member of the tribe. De Rasieres describes some of the aspects of Wampanoag initiation.
When there is a youth who begins to approach manhood, he is taken by his father, uncle or nearest friend, and is conducted blindfolded into a wilderness, in order that he may not know the way, and is left there by night or otherwise, with a bow and arrows, and a hatchet and a knife. He must support himself there a whole winter with what the scanty earth furnishes at this season, and by hunting. Towards the spring they come again, and fetch him out of it, take him home and feed him up again until May. He must then go out again every morning with the person who is ordered to take him in hand; he must go into the forest to seek wild herbs and roots, which they know to be the most poisonous and bitter; these they bruise in water and press the juice out of them, which he must drink, and immediately have ready such herbs as will preserve him from death or vomiting; and if he cannot retain it, he must repeat the dose until he can support it and until his constitution becomes accustomed to it so that he can retain it.
Then he comes home, and is brought by the men and women all singing and dancing, before the Sackima; and if he has been able to stand it all well, and if he is fat and sleek, a wife is given to him.[466]