WAMPUM AND SHELL ARTICLES 455 
worth of Black Wampum & Io of White & I expect to see it in two 
Months & an half as I Must Make New Cheifs with it again that 
time to help Me.”—Penn. mag. 14:320 
Lack of wampum 
It sometimes happened that Indians were out of wampum or the 
supply at a council ran short through unexpected business. This 
‘happened to'the Five Nations when at Albany in 1714. They gave 
three sticks and replaced them with belts the following year. At 
a camp near Tuscarawas (QO.) in 1764, large belts were given, but 
' the Delawares gave bundles of 41 and 42 sticks. Colden describes 
another use of sticks at councils. ‘‘ The art they have in assisting 
their memories is this. The sachem who presides has a bundle of 
sticks prepared for the purpose, and at the close of the message de- 
livered to them, gives a stick to another sachem, charging him with 
remembrance of it. By this means the orator, after a previous con- 
ference with the Indians, is prepared to repeat every part of the mes- 
sage and give it its precise reply. This custom is invariably pur- 
sued in all their public treaties.” | 
Beaver skins or other furs were sometimes used in place of belts 
and strings. At a council between Champlain and the Hurons in 
1633 the latter used beavers alone. At another in 1691 the 21 
presents of the Five Nations were almost all of beavers and otters. 
Western and southern nations used pipes and furs. All the colonies 
could not readily command a wampum supply. In 1677 Maryland 
wished to send bands of wampum to each of the Five Nations, but, 
if these could not be had, 20 to 25 guilders worth of strung wam- 
pum was to be used. At present one or two beads may be sent 
with a message, because of their rarity, and sometimes none can be 
had. 
Color of wampum 
The color of belts and strings was of importance. White was 
generally an emblem of something good, and black of affairs of a 
more serious nature, but this was not invariable. Black wampum, 
being double the value of the white, was often used to signify 
affairs of great importance. Several writers of the 18th century 
