160 Mr, Harris account of pawpaws. : 
was laid out at the first settlement of the town. Sixty years ago, my 
informant used to stand on the bridge over the creek, and catch ale- 
wives. The bridge has for many years been taken away, and the 
road made solid ; so that the tide is quite ex¢luded. ‘The marsh it- 
self has been in part converted into tillage ground, by a dam about one 
third of a mile lower down. The creek, in its windings below the 
dam, must be more than a mile in length, and has its mouth at the 
flats, which separate Dorchester from Boston. When open all the 
way, it was only wide enough to admit a small boat to its head. 
I feel a hesitancy in pronouncing, that the shells were natives of 
the pond ; and yet it is past conjecture how they should have been 
brought there. ds cannet however be amiss to record the fact, which 
Thave stated. - Sa SP SR, 
The name pier. I believe, is given to tbe shell, ~s inber the 
convex part is broken or ground flat, that it may be wsed by the ne- 
grocs among us inagame, which perhaps is original to their own 
country. In Africa and the East Indies, where it passes for money, it 
is called the cowry. Large quantities of these shells are.said to be eol- 
lected annually in the Maldiva Islands, for exportation to Africa, Ben- 
gal, Siam, AE Oa >, Seen oe 
ae wa 
- With much puititit Tam, dear sir, 
your friend and humble servant, r ee 
ADDEUS MASON HARRIS: 
, 
