WAMPUM AND SHELL ARTICLES 353 



In 1657 it was too abundant, and grocers made a difference in 

 prices of 30, 40 and ^o^fc when selling for wampum or beaver. 

 Being both long and short, it was to be paid by measure, yet a 

 white bead was to be a half farthing, a black bead a farthing. 

 In 1658 there was a greater difference in prices. Eight white and 

 four black were to be a stiver, and a coarse wheat loaf of 8 pounds 

 was to be seven stivers in silver, 14 in wampum; and a white loaf 

 of 2 pounds was to be four stivers in silver and eight in wampum 

 for the present. In 1662 wampum went down to 24 white or 12 

 black for a stiver. There was no duty on imported wampum. 



In these constant changes wampum at last became scarce. The 

 English felt this inconvenience soon after taking New York, and a 

 proclamation was issued in 1673. "Where as ye great scarcity of 

 wampum throughout these His Royal Highness his territories hath 

 been taken into consideration, great quantities thereof being yearly 

 transported and carried away by the Indians, and little or none 

 brought in as formerly, which is conceived to be occasioned by ye 

 low value put thereupon: And for that there is no certain coin in 

 ye Government, but in lieu thereof wampum is esteemed and re- 

 ceived as current payment for goods," to encourage bringing it in, 

 "instead of eight white and four black wampum, six white and three 

 black shall pass in equal value thereof as a stiver or penny, and three 

 times so much in ye value of silver." 



The running comments on this currency have some interest. In 

 1659, "wampum had already been reduced from six to eight for a 

 stiver." It ceased to be valued "by counting so many for a guilder 

 or stiver, but by the handful, length or , fathom, and traders can 

 afford under the circumstances, receiving more pieces for one stiver, 

 to give a longer string to the natives for a beaver." In paying 

 soldiers that year wampum was to be reckoned at a lower rate ; and 

 this reduced "the currency value of a beaver from 5 to 7 guilders. 



. . . This special reduction of wampum must necessarily be 

 followed by a more general one, if we desire to prevent its com- 

 plete debasement, caused by the abundant irnportation of wampum 

 by the people of New England," They had quick returns in trade, 

 whilf th^ Piitcl) sat "pn tbejr boxes full pf wampum, a m?4iwm of 



