482 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 137 



distinguish'd by the name of Wampom Peak. The English men that are call'd 

 Indian Traders, value the Wampom Peak, at eighteen pence per Yard, and the 

 white Peak at nine pence. The Indians also make Pipes of this, two or three 

 inches long, and thicker than ordinary, which are much more valuable. They 

 also make Runtees of the same Shell, and grind them as smooth as Peak. These 

 are either large like an Oval Bead, and drill'd the length of the Oval, or else 

 they are circular and flat, almost an inch over, and one third of an inch thick, 

 and drill'd edgeways. Of this Shell they also make round Tablets of about four 

 inches diameter, which they polish as smooth as the other, and sometimes they 

 etch or grave thereon. Circles, Stars, a Half Moon, or any other figure suitable 

 to their fancy. These they wear instead of Medals before or behind their Neck, 

 and use the Peak, Runtees and Pipes for Coronets, Bracelets, Belts or long Strings 

 banging down before the Breast, or else they lace their Garments with them, and 

 adorn their Tomahawks, and every other thing that they value. 



They have also another sort which is as current among them, but of far less 

 value; and this is made of the Cockleshell, broke into small bits with rough 

 edges, drill'd through in the same manner as Beads, and this they call Roenoke, 

 and use it as the Peak. 



These sorts of Money have their rates set upon them as unalterable, and cur- 

 rent as the values of our Money are. (Beverley, 1705, bk. 3, pp. 58-59.) 



The account of Lawson should be compared with this ; 



Their money is of different sorts, but all made of shells, which are found 

 on the coast of Carolina, which are very large and hard, so that they are very 

 diflicult to cut. Some English smiths have tried to drill this sort of shell 

 money, and thereby thought to get an advantage; but it proved so hard, that 

 nothing could be gained. They oftentimes make, of this shell, a sort of gorge, 

 which they wear about their neck in a string; so it hangs on their collar, 

 whereon sometimes is engraven a cross, or some odd figure, which comes next 

 in their fancy. There are other sorts valued at a doe skin, yet the gorges 

 will sometimes sell for three or four buck skins ready dressed. There be others, 

 that eight of them go readily for a doe skin; but the general and current 

 species of all the Indians in Carolina, and, I believe, all over the continent, as 

 far as the bay of Mexico, is that which we call Peak and Roanoak ; but Peak 

 more especially. This is that which at New York, they call wampum, and have 

 used it as current money amongst the inhabitants for a great many years. 

 This is what many writers call porcelan, and is made in New York in great 

 quantities, and with us in some measure. Five cubits of this purchase a 

 dressed doe skin, and seven or eight purchase a dressed buck skin. An 

 Englishman could not afford to make so much of this wampum for five or 

 ten times the value; for it is made out of a vast great shell, of which that 

 country affords plenty; where it is ground smaller than the small end of a 

 tobacco pipe, or a large wheat straw. Four or five of these make an inch, 

 and every one is to be drilled through, and made as smooth as glass, and so 

 strung, as beads are, and a cubit of the Indian measure contains as much in 

 length, as will reach from the elbow to the end of the little finger. They never 

 stand to question, whether it is a tall man or a short man, that measures it ; but 

 if this wampum peak be black or purple, as some part of that shell is, then 

 it is twice the value. This the Indians grind on stones and other things, till 

 they make it current but the drilling is the most diflicult to the Englishman, 

 which the Indians manage with a nail stuck in a cane or reed. Thus they 

 roll it continually on their thighs, with their right hand holding the bit of 

 shell with their left, so in time they drill a hole quite through it, which is a 

 very tedious work; but especially in making their roanoak, four of which wiU 



