American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-07-17
IVANIPUM.

Indians to VIM. Penn at the first great
treaty after his landing on the shores of
the Delaware, was presented few DAYS
ago to the Pennsylvania Historical Soci-
ETY. byGranvillcI. Penn. The presenta-
ton was the occasion of large meet
ing of the Society and invited guests,
at which several interesting speeches
We're made. A Belt of Wampum was
composed of string of pieces of beau
tiful muscle shells, which were found
on the coasts of Maryland and Virgin
Ia, and were valued according to the
beauty of their color, which was white,
violet and Brown, the latter often so
dark as to pass for black. Having first
sawed them into square pieces about
quarter of an inch in length and an
eighth in thickness, they grind them
round or oval upon common grind
stone; then hole being bored length
ways through each, large enough to
admit wire, whipcord, or thong, they
are strung like beads, and the string
of Wampum is completed. -Four or
six strings joined in one breadth, and
fastened to each other with fine thread,
make Belt Of Wampum, being about
three or fosr inches wide and three feet
long, containing perhaps four, eight or
twelve fathom of Wampum, in proper.
ton to its required length and breadth.
This is determined by the Importance
Of the subject which these belts are in.
tended either to explain or confirm, or
by the dignity of the persons to whom
they arc to be delivered. Everything
of moment transacted at solemn coun
ellis, either between the Indians them.
selves or with the Europeans, is ratifi-
ed ana made valid by strings and Belts
of Wampum.
'"Formerly they used to give sane
ton to their treaties by delivering a
wing of some large bird; and this Gus
tom still prevails among the more wes-
tern nations, in transacting business
with the Delawares. But the Della
wares themselves, the Iroquois, and
the other nations in league with them
are now sufficiently provided with hand
some and well-wrought strings of
Wampum. Upon the delivery Of the
string, a long speech may be made and
much said upon the subject under con-
slderation, but when Belt is given few
words are spoken; but they must be
words of great Importance, frequently
requiring an explanation. Whenever
the speaker has pronounced some i'm.
portant sentence, he delivers a string
OF Mampum adding, Il give this string
or Wampum as confirmation of what |
have spoken;' but the chief subject of
his discourse he confirms with a Belt.
The answer given to a speech thus de-
livered must always be confirmed by
strings and Belts of Wampum, of the
same size and number as those receiy-
ed. Neither the color or the other
qualities of Wampum are matters of
indifference, but have an immediate
reference to those things which thew
are meant to confirm. The brown or
deep violet, called black by the Indi-
ans, always means something of severe
or doubtful import; but the white is the
color of peace. Thus, if string or
Belt of Wampum is intended to con.
firm warning against evil or an car
nest reproof, it is delivered in black.
When nation is called upon to 90 to
war, or war is declared against it, the
belt is black, or marked with red. call
ed by them the color Of blood, having
in the centre the figure of Ratchet in
white Wampum.
"The Indian women are very dex-
ferrous in weaving the string of Wam-
pun into Belts, and making them with
different figures, perfectly agreeing
with the different subject contained in
the speech. These figures are marked
with white Wampum upon black, and
with black upon the white Belts. For
example, in Belt Of peace, they very
dextcrously represent, in black Wan.
pun, two hands joined. The Belt of
peace is white, fathom long and a
hands breadth. They refer to them
as public records, carefully preserving
them in chest made for that purpose.
at certain seasons they meet to study
their meaning, and to renew the ideas
of which they were an emblem or con
frmation. On such occasions they sit
down around the chest, take out the
strings or Belts one after another,
handing them about to every person
present, and, that they may all COM
prchend their meaning, repeat the
words pronounced ON their delivery in
their whole convention. BY these
means they are made to remember the
promises reciprocally made by the diff
fcrent parties; and as it is their custom
to admit even the young boys who are