The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-02-07
az rns NARRAGANsET'r INDiANs.

MEMOIR OF IL. ISLAND.
or rns NAsRAeANsErr INDIANS.
Their currency which served as the
coin of the country and which consisted
Of beads was Of two sorts, each ofwhich |
was tender not only with the Indians,
but with the English the white beads at
six for penny and tho black, or dark
blue. three for a penny. The white were
made Of the stern pfthe periwinkle the o.
thsr part being broken of. The black,
or dark blue, were made Of another shell
much in the same way.and people living
on the sea shore made what they pleased
without license from the Sachem. Those
beadswsre strung each string passing for
iss respective value according to the num-
Der Of beads it contained, and was called
wampum. This currency wss used
BY the Indians throughout the sea coast,
and six hundred miles back in the coun-
Try. ~ well as by the English (who made
1t a tender by law) and also the Dutch,
in their trade with one another, as well
ms with the Indians. The Indians made
belts and girdles Of this money, curious
ly wrought. 1t also constituted the rega-
lia of the Sachems, and he who had the
most wampum was the wealthiest. In
their mechanic arts some followed one
employment and some anoth@; one
made only bows, another only arrows,
some dishes, some mechanics tools,
(which last were made Of stone and spe-
cimens of which are often found to this
day,) hatchets, gouges and chisels close
grained and hard, and capable ofbearing
an edge sufficient to cut wood tolerably
well. Some followed fishing, some hunt
ing, some the making of canoes, and some
earthen ware but all who lived near the
sea shore understood making money
from the shells as before described.
These facts prove they were not altogeth-
er ignorant Of the advantages of divis-
ION oflabor. Roger Williams estimates
it at twelve days work, for an Indian car
penser TO fell the tree and complete a
canoe, in which they could boldly vea-
ture upon the ocean, Some of their
boats would carry only three, or four,
others thirty or forty men. Indian ferries
were kept on the principal routes. some
ofwhich were continued by the whites,
and are kept up TO this day. The In
dams were remarkable swimmers. aud if
their boats were upset within two miles
Of the land, they would save themselves
BY swimming. Thsir, largest canoes
were used in n,val warfare. Roger Viii
liam says, in fleets Of forty sail or more,
and II they met an enemy sea fight en-
sued. Having established medium Of
trade, or money, Of an equal value
throughout the country, division Of la
bor. to some extent, introduced itself
and commerce among the tribes. II al
10 facilitated trade with strangers. The
French and the Dutch had commerce
with the Narragansetts before the En-
glish settled at Plymouth. Trading was
a business at which the Narragsnset,s
were very expert. having a dense popu-
lation, more wealth in. money, and gen-
orally more commercial enterprise and
eapitalthan their neighbors; arising part
ly from their local situation on the sea
coast where the shells were abundant,
ofwhieh their money was made, partly
from their greater industry, and partly
from the tribute of.heir dependant tribes.
They were interchangeable in commerce,
sharp, cunning and intelligent in trade.
They would try all markets, within q
hundred miles, carrying their wares on
their back. To deal with them Yequir-
ed thorough knowledge Of the trade
with patience and faithfulncss. They
were addicted to fraud. themselves and
quick to discover il in others. Some Of
them were honorable and fair dealers
bat others and the larger part. knavish
and deceitfui, desirous to obtain credi,,
which if given, too often terminated. in
the loss Of the debt ~ well as the custo.