H0LMB8.1 WAMPUM IN TREATIES. 243 



shall be iu blossom, at which time we intend to visit Corlear (the gov- 

 ernor of New York), and see the place where wampum is made.' 



"The belts were accepted bj' the Five Nations, and their acceptance 

 was a ratification of the treaty. A large belt was also given to the mes- 

 sengers from Albany as their share. A wampum belt sent from Albany 

 was, in the same manner, hung up and afterwards divided."' 



This indicates a most extravagant use of belts; but since it is probable 

 that as many were received in return this was a matter of little impor- 

 tance. The great profusion of wampum used in some of the later treaties 

 is a matter of surprise. In a council held between four Indian ambassa- 

 dors from New England and the French thirty-six fine large belts were 

 given by the ambassadors to thank them that their people had not been 

 treated with hostility.^ 



" The appendix to the second volume of Proud's History of Pennsyl- 

 vania contains the journals of Frederick Christian Post, who was sent 

 by Governor Denny, in 1758, to make a treaty with the Alleghany In- 

 dians ; and in delivering the governor's answer to the chiefs, on his 

 second visit in the same year, after proposing to them to unite iu a 

 tre.lty of peace which had lately been concluded Arith the Indians at 

 Easton, and producing sundry belts, one of which was marked with 

 figures representing the English and the Indians delivering the peace- 

 belt to one of the commissioners, he proceeds to say : 'Brethren on the 

 Ohio, if you take the belts we just now gave you, as we do not doubt 

 you will, then by this beW — producing another and using their figurative 

 style of speech — ' I make a road for you, and invite you to come to 

 Philadelphia, to your first old couucil-flre, which we rekindle up agiiin, 

 and remove disputes, and renew the first old treaties of friendship. 

 This is a clear and open road for you; therefore, fear nothing, and come 

 to us with as manj- as can be of the Delawares, Shawanese, or the Six 

 Nations ; we will be glad to see you ; we desire all tribes and nations 

 of Indians who are in alliance with you may come.' Whereupon a large 

 white belt, with the figure of a man at each end and streaks of black 

 representing the road from the Ohio to Philadelphia, was then given to 

 them.'" 



Lafitau, whose statements are considered unusually trustworthy, as 

 they were based chiefly on personal observation of the Indian tribes of 

 Canada, gives the following very instructive account of the mnemonic 

 use of wampum : 



"All affairs are conducted by means of branches [strings] and neck- 

 laces [belts] of porcelain [wampum] which with them take the place of 

 comjjacts, written agreements, and contracts. • » » The shell, 

 which is used for affairs of state, is worked into little cylinders of a. 

 quarter of an iuch in length and large iu proportion. They are distrib- 

 uted in two ways, in strings and in belts. The strings are composed 



' Events in Indian History, Lancaster, Pa., 1841, page 143. 

 2 History and descriiition of New France, Vol. II, iJage 256. 

 »Penn, in Memoirs Hist. Soc. Penn'a, Vol. VI, p. 222. 



