Adapted as they were to a mobile existence, the Wampanoags did not
own large numbers of personal possessions judged by our standards. A
typical list of an individual’s possessions would probably include
his clothing, whatever tools he used from day to day, and his
“wealth” in the form of wampum, skins, and the like. Even adding
in such personal possessions as pipes and jewelry, the amount of
property in this class would not have been large. At least some of
this property was buried with its owner at his death.[387]
Land and the right to use it was apparently owned by the sachem.
The boundaries of territory owned by a particular sachem were well
defined, and from this land he allotted certain parts of it to his
followers for their use. Not much is known, however, of the basis of
land allotment.[388]
The sachem retained certain rights over the land used by his
followers. When a deer was shot in his territory he was due the
forequarters. He was also to be given the skins of deer taken in
water that was in his territory. An annual tribute of food was given
him by all the people, in return for, among other things, the use of
his property.[389]