316 lawson's history 



tobacco pipe, or a large wlieat straw. Four or five 

 of these make an inch, and every one is to be drill- 

 ed throngli, and made as smooth as glass, and so 

 strung, as beads are, and a cubit of the Indian 

 measure contains as much in length, as will reach 

 from the elbow to the end of the little finger. 

 They never stand to question, whether it is a tall 

 man or a short man, that measures it ; but if this 

 wampum peak be black or purple, as some part of 

 that shell is, then it is twice the value. This the 

 Indians grind on stones and other things, till they 

 make it current but the drilling is the most diffi- 

 cult to the Englishmen, vvdiich the Indians manage 

 with a nail stuck in a cane or reed. Thus they 

 roll it continually on their thighs, Avith their right 

 hand holding the bit of shell with their left, so in 

 time they drill a hole quite through it, which is a 

 very tedious work ; but especially in making their 

 ronoak, four of which will scarce make one length 

 of wampum. The Indians are a people that never 

 value their time, so that they can afford to make 

 them, and never need to fear the English will take 

 the trade out of their hands. This is the money 

 w^ith which you may buy skins, furs, slaves, or any 

 thing the Indians have; it being the mammon (as 

 our money is to us) that entices and persuades 

 them to do any thing, and part with every thing 

 they possess, except their children for slaves. As 

 for their wives, they are often sold, and their 

 daughters violated for it. With this they buy off 

 murders ; and whatsoever a man can do that is ill, 



