82 BUKEAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 71 



Having described tins remarkable liiece of wampum, the most in- 

 teresting example of such work Imown to exist, it may be well to 

 refer briefly to wampum in general. 



The term wampum, derived from an Algonquian word, has often 

 been applied to all shell beads, but the true wampum beads are of a 

 cylindrical form, averaging about one-eighth inch in diameter and 

 one- fourth inch in length. They are of two sorts, white and violet, 

 the latter by many writers being termed black. The violet beads 

 were made of a part of the Venus mercenaria^ while various shells 

 were used in making the white variety. It is quite probalile that 

 such beads were made and used by the native tribes along the Atlantic 

 coast before the coming of Eiu-opeans, although it is equally probable 

 that after acquiring metal tools, or bits of metal capable of being 

 fashioned into drills, they were made in greater quantities and of a 

 more regular form. 



In the year 1656 there appeared in London a small printed cata- 

 logue of the collections belonging to John Tradescant. This was the 

 first publication of such a nature in the English language. The title 

 of this little volume is " Museum Tradescantianum : or a Collection 

 of Rarities preserved at South Lambeth near London, by John 

 Tradescant. London, M.DC.LVI." On page 51 of the catalogue is 

 mention of a "Black Indian girdle made of wampum peek best sort." 

 This is probably the earliest reference to a piece of wampum in a 

 European collection, and it proves that various qualities were recog- 

 nized. This was made clear by an entry in the Catalogue and De- 

 scription of the Natural and Artificial Rarities, belonging to the 

 Royal Society, and preserved at Gresham College, London, 1681. 

 A most valuable reference to and description of wampum appears on 

 page 370, and is quoted in full : 



" Several sorts of Indian Money, called wampam peage, 'Tis made 

 of a shell, formed into small Cylinders^ about a ^ of an inch long, 

 and ^ over, or somewhat more or less: and so being bored as Beads 

 and put upon Strinr/s, pass among the Indians, in their usual Com- 

 merse, as Silver and Gold amongst us. But being loose is not so 

 current. 



" The meanest is in Single StHngs. Of which here is both the 

 White and Black. By measure, the former goes at Five shillings the 

 Fathome ; the latter, at Ten. By Number the former at Six a penny ; 

 the latter, at Three. 



" The next in value is that which is Woven together into Bracelets 

 about \ of a yard long: Black and White, in Stripes, and six })ieces 

 in a Row ; the warp consisting of Leathern Thongs, the Woofc of 

 Thread. The BracedefH the Zaul-nquaes or Gentlewomsn commonly 

 wear twice or thrice about their Wrists. 



