248 ART IN SHELL OF THE ANCIENT AMERICANS. 



association of simple facts, but the combinations of colors in patterns 

 rendered it possible to record much more complicated affairs. In belts 

 used for niiiemonic purposes the colors were generallj' arranged with- 

 out reference to the character of the facts or thoughts to be intrusted to 

 them, but in a few cases the figures are ideographic, and are significant 

 of the event to be memorized. Strings cannot be utilized in this way. 



Wampumin strin;/s. — From Mr. Beauchamp's notes I havecompiled the 

 following brief account of the use of strings of wampum among the 

 modern Iroquois. Six strings of purple beads united in a cluster re]>re- 

 sent the six nations. When the tribes meet ihe strands are arranged 

 in a circle, which signifies that the council is opened. The Onondagas 

 are represented by seven strings, which contain a few white beads ; the 

 Cayugas by six strands, all purple, and the Tuscaroras by seven strands, 

 nearly all purple. The Mohawks have six strings, on which there are two 

 purple beads to one white. These are illustrated in Fig. 2, Plate XLIV. 

 There are four strings in the Onei(bi cluster ; these contain two ])urple 

 to one white bead. The Senecas have four strings, with two puri)le 

 beads to one white. The three nations which were brothers are repre- 

 sented by similar clusters. 



When a new chief is installed the aildress delivered on the occasion is 

 " talked into" ten very long strings of white wampum. Three strings, 

 mostly white, I'epresent the name of the new chief. One of these clusters 

 is shown in Fig. 1, Plate XLIV.' Wiien a chief dies he is mourned on 

 ten strings of black wampum. If he has merely lost his office, six short 

 strings are used. 



According to Mr. Be.iuchamp, possession of beads gives authority, 

 and they are also used as credentials, or, as the Indians express it, 

 "Chief's wampum all same as your letter." Such of these strings as 

 remain in existence are still in use among the Iroquois, and are consid- 

 ered very precious by them, being made of antique hand-made beads. 



In the literature relating to our Indian tribes we find occasional ref- 

 erence to the use of strings of wampum in ways that indicate that they 

 were invested with certain protective and authoritative qualities, doubt- 

 less from their association with the name of some chief, clan, or tribe. 



It is recorded that on one occasion Logan, the Mingo chief, saved a 

 captive white from torture by rushing through the circle of Indians and 

 throwing a string of wampum about the prisoner's neck. Through the 

 virtue of this string he was enabled to lead him away and adopt him 

 into his family. 



A somewhat different use is mentioned- by Pike, to whom a Chippewa 

 chief made a speech, during which he presented his pipe to Mr. Pike 

 to bear to the Sioux. Attached to the pipe were seven strings of wam- 

 pum, which signified that authority was given by seven chiefs of the 

 Chippeway to conclude peace or make wnr.^ 



Wampum belts. — In the manufacture of belts a great deal of skill and 



'From an original ski'toli liy Mr. Bpaucliani]). 



= Piko: Travels through the Western Territories of N. A., 1805-'7, p. 103. 



