of the Eatable Clam of New York. 291 
cipal manufacturers of wampum, have experienced rather a 
decline of their business. 
The coloured portion of the clam shell is ground into ob- 
long pieces, varying from one quarter of an inch, usually, to 
three quarters of an inch in length, and of the diameter of a 
crow’s quill. Each piece is bored through lengthwise, 
whereby it becomes a hollow cylinder. The pieces are then 
strung like beads to the number of about two dozen and a half 
to three dozen on a string. This is called a string of Wam- 
pum. 
Besides its employment for the purposes of dress and de- 
coration, a string of wampum is a denomination of value. 
Hence, the price of a horse, a pack of beaver, or any thing 
else, can be estimated exactly in strings and pieces of wam- 
pum. 
The worth of wampum is regulated very much by its ex- 
emption from white, and by the intensity and integrity of its 
blue and purple. It mostly happens that the pieces are 
veined or striped with white, like cameos and onyxes. On 
this account the manufacturers prepare two kinds which are 
of different value. According to their deepness of blue, or free= 
dom from white, is the estimation in which the pieces and 
strings are held. 
A white wampum is prepared from the shell of the Baha- 
ma conch or strombus. ‘The pieces of this are of about the 
same diameter with the preceding, but longer, and from the 
same shell are prepared white ornaments for the ears of the 
warriors, about two inches long, and as thick as a pipe-stem. 
These sorts are cheaper than the other. 
Pieces of wampum are strung and connected in such a 
manner for solemn purposes, as to make what is called a belt. 
{tis believed the Indians adapt and arrange them in such a 
manner as to be significant like writing: Belts of wampum 
are therefore mostly delivered at treaties and on great public 
occasions. But whether they convey a meaning or record of 
the transaction or not, they indicate a generous spirit on the 
part of the donor as being valuable presents. Blue isa fa- 
vourite colour in the Indian taste and ornament. Through 
the vast range of Polynesian islands, situated between Ame- 
rica ana Asia, blue beads of glass are in the highest estima- 
tion; anda string of them will go very far in the purchase of 
provisions or any thing else the natives have tosell. The 
