WAMPUM AND SHELL ARTICLES 33 1 



it is implied that it was very large. From slight experiments la 

 drilling the writer finds it less difficult than is sometimes repre- 

 sented. 



Roger Williams gave the words, puckwhe ganash and mucksuck 

 for the awl blades already mentioned. It may be observed, also, 

 that the word niuges is used in the printed record of the deed of 

 East Hampton, in 1648, instead of muxes, as given by Mr Tooker. 

 In the Documentary history of the state of New York it is jnticxs. 

 which is nearer his rendering. In the same deed the Indians "re- 

 serve libertie'to fish in all convenient places, for Shells to make wam- 

 pum." — Rec. East Hampton, 1 :^. Evidently the trade was highly- 

 valued by them. 



U n i O' beads and ornaments are very rare, considering how fine 

 and abundant was this material, and but two other genera of fresh- 

 water shells appear in use. Some marine species will be mentioned 

 in treating of articles, but Melampus bidentatus was oc- 

 casionally used in early and recent times. It is neither showy nor 

 durable, but is ,of the desired form, requiring merely perforation. 



The manufacture of articles of shell was at first mainly on or near 

 the seashore. U n i O' beads are very rarely found in the interior 

 of New York, and the writer has noticed a few perforated 

 Goniobasis and M e 1 a n t h o shells not otherwise worked. 

 All these are fresh-water species, and the last may have been 

 earliest in use. This perforated green shell has been found spar- 

 ingly in Erie and Jefferson counties, and may occur elsewhere. 

 Fig. 17 and 18 show some from the former county, perforated near 

 the lip, as in all other cases. Goniobasis is a smaller and more 

 slender shell, and perforated specimens of two species occur from 

 Madison county westward. Schoolcraft described one as a M a r - 

 g i n e 1 1 a. Fig. 25 shows some from the fort west of Cazenovia. 

 Quite a number have been found there, and they are about 300 

 years old. They do not occur naturally within 20 miles of the spot. 

 A few have been found in the country of the Senecas, mostly from 

 recent sites in Livingston county, and they seem to be the fresh- 

 water shell beads of Seneca tradition. 



Long shell beads are sometimes found in the interior, possibly; 



