282 Naiural and Economical History 
Indians of our continent have a similar predilection for blue, 
or the colour that comes near to it in a shell. . Fora string 
of wampum, bears a considerable resemblance to a string of 
glass beads. Indeed it may be considered as an assemblage 
of shell beads. 
ere seems to be no reason for believing the Indians 
— drill, or possessed any instrument with which they 
ould bore through solid cylinders of clam shell. [t is not 
probable they manufactured wampum any more than glass 
but derived both from the Europeans or other white 
people. In confirmation of this opinion, it may be stated that 
the North American Indians are fond of bedecking themselves 
with the dentalium, or tooth shell, which they procure along 
the North West Coast. Now the dentalium, as you per- 
fectly know, is a univalve, hollow, or tubular, nearly straight, 
without any ‘internal partitions, and open at both ends. The 
convenience of being ny is understood by the natives, who 
seem to prize it accordingly. But as the the colour is_not 
it pecs to have ‘declined in value and ee as 
Tigh as ated extensive heaps of clam shells exist at the pre- 
sent time on the shores of Long Island, indicating that the 
natives who piled themup fed upon the animals. They have 
evidently undergone the operation of fire, or in other words, 
been roasted. These hillocks of clam shells have been 
peat by the proprietors of the adjoining lands es ~~ 
They are abundantly scattered over ound 
fraagieente, where the Indians were anciently settled rt 
. their — decomposition tend to fertilize it. 
Besides the before-mentioned uses of the clams and their 
shells, it ought to be mentioned that the latter are converti- 
ble by fire into excellent quick lime; and are frequently cal- 
d = the Seay of furnishing that material for a cement. 
ks, a very intelligent and communicative gentle- 
ms employ of the American Fur Company, has, in ad- 
dition to-his other communications, aoe me samples of the 
several. wampums now in use; to w 
+ 
é 
