(1) _Wampum._--p. 118.
Wampum is an Indian word signifying a muscle. A number of these
muscles strung together is called a string of wampum, which when a
fathom long is termed a belt of wampum, but the word string is
commonly used whether it be long or short. Before the English came to
North America, the Indians used to make their strings of wampum
chiefly of small pieces of wood of equal size, stained either black or
white. Few were made of muscles, which were esteemed valuable and
difficult to make. But the Europeans soon contrived to make strings of
wampum, both neat and elegant, and in great abundance. The Indians
immediately gave up the use of the old wooden substitutes for wampum,
and procured those made of muscles, which, though fallen in price,
were always accounted valuable.
These muscles are chiefly found on the coast of Virginia and Maryland,
and are valued according to their colour--which is brown, violet, and
white. The former are sometimes of so dark a shade that they pass for
black, and are double the price of the white. Having first sawed them
into square pieces, about a quarter of an inch in length, and an
eighth in thickness, they grind them round or oval upon a common
grind-stone. Then, a hole being bored lengthways through each, large
enough to admit a wire, whipcord or large thong, they are strung like
beads, and the string of wampum is completed. Four or six strings
joined in one breadth, and fastened to each other with a fine thread,
make a belt of wampum, being about three or four inches wide, and
three feet long, containing, perhaps, four, eight, and twelve fathoms
of wampum, in proportion to its required length and breadth. This is
determined by the importance of the subject which these belts are
intended to explain or confirm, or by the dignity of the persons to
whom they are to be delivered. Every thing of moment, transacted at
solemn councils, either between the Indians themselves or with the
Europeans, is ratified and made valid by strings and belts of wampum.
Formerly they used to give sanction to their treaties by delivering a
wing of some large bird, and this custom still prevails among the more
western nations, in transacting business with the Delawares. Upon the
delivery of a string, a long speech may be made, and much said upon
the subject under consideration: but when a belt is given few words
are spoken, but they must be words of great importance, frequently
requiring an explanation. Whenever the speaker has pronounced some
important sentence, he delivers a string of wampum, adding, "I give
this string of wampum as a confirmation of what I have spoken." But
the chief subject of his discourse he confirms with a belt. The
answers given to a speech thus delivered must also be confirmed by
strings and belts of wampum, of the same size and number as those
received. Neither the colour nor the quality of the wampum is matter
of indifference, but both have an immediate reference to those things
which they are meant to confirm. The brown or deep violet, called
black by the Indians, always means something of a severe or doubtful
import, but white is the colour of peace. Thus, if a string or belt of
wampum is intended to confirm a warning against evil, or an earnest
reproof, it is delivered in black. When a nation is called upon to go
to war, or war is declared against it, the belt is black, or marked
with red, called by them the _colour of blood_, having in the middle
the figure of a hatchet in white wampum.
The Indian women are very dexterous in weaving the strings of wampum
into belts, and marking them with different figures, perfectly
agreeing with the different subjects contained in the speech. These
figures are marked with white wampum on the black, and with black upon
the white belts. For example, upon a belt of peace, they very
dexterously represent in black wampum two hands joined. The belt of
peace is a fathom long, and of the breadth of a hand. To distinguish
one belt from the other, each has its peculiar mark. No belt, except
the war-belt, must show any red colour. If they are obliged to use
black wampum instead of white, they daub it over with white clay, and,
though the black may shine through, yet in value and import it is
considered as equal to white. These strings and belts of wampum are
also documents by which the Indians remember the chief articles of the
treaties made between themselves, or with the white people. They refer
to them as to public records, carefully preserving them in a chest
made for that purpose. At certain seasons they meet to study their
meaning, and to renew the ideas of which they were an emblem and a
confirmation. On such occasions they sit down around the chest, take
out one string or belt after the other, handing it about to every
person present; and, that they may all comprehend its meaning, they
repeat the words pronounced on its delivery in their whole connexion.
By these means they are enabled to remember the promises reciprocally
made by the different parties. And, as it is their custom to admit
even young boys, who are related to the chiefs, to these assemblies,
they become early acquainted with all the affairs of state; and thus
the contents of their documents are transmitted to posterity, and
cannot be easily forgotten.