THE ORIGIN AND USE OF WAMPUM 



FREE TKANSLATION 



Accordingly, then, whenever they held a council there were sha- 

 mans there. And according to theii' strength among these shamans 

 it was known who was the most powerful. After they held their 

 council they lighted their pipes and smoked. In the case of an 

 exceedingly great shaman everj' time he drew upon his pipe, wampum 

 fell from his mouth. If the wampum was white, then it denoted 

 that the shaman was of medium power. If the wampum was half 

 white and half reddish it denoted the least powerful shaman. But 

 if, in the case of a shaman, his wampum was almost black, then he 

 would win over these shamans, the others who had the most wampum, 

 after the shamans had smoked their pipes. And so whenever these 

 two nations wanted to make a treaty they gave wampum to each 

 other as a payment, the beads woven into a belt designed with two 

 hands, meaning that they had agreed to the treaty and would fight 

 no more and forever would not hunt one another dowm again. And 

 that is all. 

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