The Nantucket Indians

A study of the island's indigenous people traces their Algonquian ties, settlement patterns, and legends, blending ethnography, folklore, and early-contact history. It recounts origin stories such as the giant Maushope tradition and the tale of Wonoma to illustrate belief, healing practices, and social values. The text surveys tribal divisions on the island, relationships with neighboring groups like the Wampanoags, and oral traditions about discovery and naming that intersect with Norse and European accounts. It also treats early European visits, the effects of contact and settlement, and cultural practices, drawing on archival material, local lore, and contemporary historical commentary to reconstruct native life.