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_, havi