WAMPUM AND SHELL ARTICLES 38/ 



the early writers give hints of this diversity, but in general any 

 thing about the body was a belt, anything around the neck a collar. 

 They used comprehensive terms. Thus when we are told that the 

 Hurons bet collars of porcelain on the game of lacrosse in 1636, 

 we need not think of the wampum belts we have seen. When the 

 Nipissirinicns six years later gave presents of collars and scarfs of 

 porcelain at their feast of the dead, both may have been made of 

 large shell beads. They probably were, as the small council wam- 

 pum was not showy, but made with a definite end in view. 



These remarks apply to the famous dress of King Philip. In 

 the account of his death quoted by S. G. Drake, in his Biography 

 and history of the Indians of North America, 1:54-55, we are told 

 that Annawon "took cmt of his pack a beautifully wrought belt which 

 belonged to Philip. It was 9 inches in breadth, and of such length 

 as, when put about the shoulders of Captain Church, it reached to 

 his ankles. This was considered at that time of great value^ being 

 embroidered all over with money, that is wampum peag, of various 

 colors, curiously wrought into figures of birds, beasts and flowers. 

 A second belt of no less exquisite workmanship was next pre- 

 sented, which belonged also to Philip. This the chief used to 

 ornament his head with, from the back part of which flowed two 

 flags, which decorated his back. A third was a smaller one, with a 

 star upon the end of it, which he wore upon his breast. All three 

 were edged with red hair^ which Annawon said was got in the 

 country of the Mohawks." These belts evidently had a foundation 

 on which curious patterns were embroidered with shell beads. 



Josselyn's description also conveys the same idea. It will be 



found on pages 142-43 of his Acconnt of two voyages to New England, 



with kindred matter. 



Their beads are their money, of these there are two sorts, blew 

 Beads and white Beads; the first is their Gold, the last their Silver, 

 these they work out of certain shells so cunning that neither Jew 

 nor Devil can counterfeit, they dril them and string them, and 

 make many curious works with them to adorn the persons of their 

 Sagainonrs and principal men and young women, as Belts, Girdles, 

 Tablets, Borders for their womens hair, Bracelets, Necklaces, and 

 links to hang in their ears. Prince Phillip, a little before I came for 

 England [1671] coming to Boston, had a coat on and Buskins set 



