WAMPUM AND SHELL ARTICLES 403 
Kidder speaks of a belt presented by the Indians of Maine as a 
pledge of friendship to the United States and France. A cross 
signified the latter, the 13 rows of the belt the former, and the In- 
dian villages were shown by several white figures. 
Underground. Underground belts are sometimes mentioned. 
Heckewelder says, page 109: “If the message be of a private 
nature, they are charged to draw or take it underground, that is, not 
to make it known to any person whatsoever, except to him to 
whom it is directed. If they are told to enter imto the earth with 
the message or speech, and rise again at the place where they are 
to deliver it, it is to desire them to be careful not to be seen by the 
way by any person, and for that purpose to avoid all paths, and 
travel through the woods.” In 1694 the Iroquois sent an under- 
ground belt to those of the Sault in Canada, with this message: 
“T put this message between you two underground, where it is to 
remain three years, in order to say to you that you must think 
much of the union that ought to exist between us, and not forget 
that here is your ancient country; that you ought to advise us of 
the designs of Onontio without letting him know it. Fear not visit- 
ing us; you will be always welcome.” Father Lamberville handled 
many such belts at Onondaga. In August 1684 he wrote to De la 
Barre: “I gave La Grande Gueule your belt under hand, and re- 
marked to him the things which you wish him to effect.” This was 
Hotreouaté, better known to us as Garangula, who was the orator 
shown in the plan of De la Barre’s camp. 
Disposition. Colden said (p. 109) that the belts and other 
presents received from the western Indians at the council at Onon- 
daga in 1690, were hung up in the council house and afterward 
distributed. One large belt was sent to Albany, and another from 
Albany was hung up and afterward divided. Lafitau said the 
nobles “ furnish them, and it is among them that they are redivided 
when presents are made to the village, and when replies to the 
belts of their ambassadors are sent. . . Their wampum would 
soon be exhausted if it did not circulate; but in almost all affairs, 
either within or without, the law requires a reply, word for word, 
that is to say, for one belt one must give another, to be of about 
