Abstract
SummaryA frequently overlooked bit of seventeenth‐century Powhatan Indian ethnography is Capt. John Smith's enigmatic description of a women's transvestite dance that he witnessed on a visit to the Powhatan principal town, Werowocomoco, in 1608. While he took this to be an impromptu entertainment for his benefit, this paper argues that it was the conclusion of extensive harvest celebrations, and that it ushered in a new year. After Smith's description to contemporary English culture, this paper offers an analysis of the ritual in Powhatan terms, confirming earlier work relating to Powhatan notions of gender and the significance of women as well as the central importance of Werowocomoco politically and cosmically.
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