WAMPUM AND SHELL ARTICLES 445 



to bury the hatchet, to kindle the fire and to sweep the hearth. In 

 later times a belt commonly uprooted a tree long enough to bury 

 all troubles under it. With simple addresses all this preliminary 

 wampum was delivered, in order that the council might open fully 

 prepared for harmony of action. These variations are a pleasant 

 subject of study by themselves, and in them will be recognized the 

 truth of Johnson's words in 1771, that the Indians " from their hav- 

 ing been next to our settlemts for sevl years, & relying solely on 

 oral Tradition for the support of their Ancient usages, have lost 

 great part of them, and have blended some with Customs amongst 

 ourselves, so as to render it Extremely difficult, if not impossible 

 to Trace their Customs to their origin, or to discover their Explica- 

 tion." 



Reference has been made to the exclamations with which wam- 

 pum was accepted in councils, and many examples might be cited, 

 but one will suffice in which all is described. In the Collections of 

 the Massachusetts historical society, ist ser. v. 7, is William Mar she's 

 journal, kept while at a council at Lancaster (Pa.) in 1744.. On page 

 185 he says:. 



Edmund Jenings, esq. as first commissioner for Maryland, made 

 -a speech to the Six Nations, which was interpreted to them by Mr 

 Weiser. Whilst Mr Jenings delivered his speech, he gave the in- 

 terpreter a string and two belts of wampum, which were by him 

 presented to the sachem Cannassateego; and the Indians thereupon 

 ^ave the cry of approbation; by this we were sure the speech was 

 well approved by the Indians. This cry is usually made on present- 

 ing wampum to the Indians in a treaty, and is performed thus : The 

 grand chief and speaker amongst them pronounces the word jo-hah! 

 with a loud voice, singly; then all the others join in this sound, 

 woh! dwelling some little time while upon it, and keeping exact 

 time with each other, and immediately, with a sharp noise and force, 

 titter this sound, zvugh! This is performed in great order, and with 

 the utmost ceremony and decorum, and with the Indians is like our 

 English huzza! 



The sound may still be recognized in Iroquois meetings in New 

 York. 



David Zeisberger noted that " the custom of adoption into a fam- 

 ily by force prevailed among various tribes. In case of the death 

 of a son or daughter, the parents, with a black belt, hired a captain 



