338 The Natural History 



ConcJc-shells; these are very large and hard and difficult to 

 be cut, yet some European Smiths have tried to drill these 

 Shells, thinking to get an advantage by them, but it proved 

 so hard and tedious in the v^orking, that nothing could be 

 gained thereby, that they have intirely laid it aside for the 

 Indians to manage, who never value their Time, so that they 

 can make them according to their Fancy. 



They frequently make of these Shells several sorts of Fig- 

 ures, in imitation of Gorges, Crosses, Stars, or any other 

 odd kind of Figure that their imagination suggests, these 

 they wear about their Necks and Arms tied with a String; 

 there are some of these Gorges that will sell for three or four 

 Buch Shins ready drest, whilst others are only valued and 

 sold for one Doe Shin. But the general and currant Species 

 amongst all the Indians of Carolina, and I believe all over 

 the Continent as far as the Bay of Mexico, that which we call 

 Peah and Ronoah, but Peah more especially. This is that 

 which they call Wampmn at New Yorh, and has been made 

 use of as current Coin for many Years amongst the Euro- 

 peans settled in that Province. This is what many Writers 

 call Proclean and was formerly made at New Yorh in great 

 quantities, and with us in some Measure. Four Cubits of 

 this purchase a dressed Doe Shin, and six or seven are the 

 purchases of a dressed Buch Shin: An European could not 

 afford to make so much of this Wampum for five times the 

 Value ; for it is made out of a verv laro-e Shell of which that 

 Country affords plenty. 



This Shell they grind smaller than the small End of a 

 Tobacco Pipe, or a large Wheat Straw; four or five of thase 

 are about an Inch in length, and every one drilled through, 

 polished and made as smooth as Glass, yet they are as strong 

 as Beads. A Cubit of the Indian Measure contains as much 



in 



