282 . Natural and Economical Fistory 
Indians of our continent have a similar predilection jor blue, 
or the colour that comes near to it inashell. Fora string 
of wampum, bears a considerable resemblance to a string of 
glass beads. Indeed it may be considered as an assemblage 
of shell beads. 
There seems to be no reason for believing the Indians 
useda drill, or possessed any instrument with which they 
could bore through solid cylinders of clam shell. It is not 
probable they manufactured wampum any more than glass 
beads, but derived both from the Europeans or other white 
people. In confirmation of this opinion, it may be stated that 
the North American Indians are fond of bedecking themselves 
with the dentalium, or tooth shell, which they procure along 
the North West Coast. Now the dentalium, as you per- 
fectly know, is a univalve, hollow, or tubular, nearly straight, 
without any internal partitions, and open at both ends. The 
convenience of being strung is understood by the natives, who 
seem to prize it accordingly. But as the the colour is not 
blue, it appears to have declined in value and demand as 
soon as the blue wampum could be procured. The partiali- 
ty of the natives for the small univalve shells of the ocean is 
evinced by the earnestness with which they beg them when 
they visit museums ; and by explorers finding some of them, 
apparently buccinums on opening a grave at St. Regis island, 
buried with the arms and utensils of the deceased. 
High and extensive heaps of clam shells exist at the pre- 
sent time on the shores of Long Island, indicating that the 
natives who piled them up fed upon the animals. They have 
evidently undergone the operation of fire, or in other words, 
had been roasted. These hillocks of clam shells have been 
employed by the proprietors of the adjoining lands for ma- 
nure. They are abundantly scattered over the ground in 
fragments, where the’Indians were anciently settled; and by 
their gradual decomposition tend to fertilize it. 
Besides the before-mentioned uses of the clams and their 
shells, it ought to be mentioned that the latter are converti- 
ble by fire into excellent quick lime ; and are frequently cal- 
cined for the purpose of furnishing that material for a cement. 
Mr. Crooks, a very intelligent and communicative gentle- 
man in the employ of the American Fur Company, has, in ad- 
dition to his other communications, given me samples of the 
several wampums now in use; to wit : 
