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]
Both boys and girls received new, adult names at the time of their
initiation.[467]