The Evansville daily journal., 1857-06-03
GbaasSills Daily yournaI.
Wampum.

OIeat treaty AFTER MS -aIluiIlS On tiic
shores ofthe Delaware was presented a
few days ago to the Pennsylvania Hlslor-
icaI Society by Granville /. Penn. grand
son Of the Great Wm. PENN The pre-
sentation was the occasion ola large
meeting OF the Society and invited guests
at which serveral interesting speeches
were made. A belt of Wampum was
composed of string of pieces Of beauti,
full muscle shells, which were found on
the coasts OF Maryland and Virginia, and
were valued according to the beauty oil
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 a quarter OF an inch
in length and al eighthin thickness, they
grind them round or oval upon a COM
mon grindstone; then a hole being bored
length ways through each large enou sh
tO admit a wire, whipcord, or thin 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 a
belt OF wampum, being about three or
four inches wide and three feet long,
containing perhaps four, eight, or twelvs
fathom of wampum, in proportion to its
required length and breadth. This is
determined 10y tbs importance of the
subject which these bets are intended
either to explain or confirm. or by the
dignity of the persons to whom they are
to be delivered. Every thing of moment
transacted at solemn councils, either be-
tween the Indians themselves or with
the Europeans, is ratified and made valid
by strings and belts of wampum. $50 81
"Formerly they used to give sanction
to their treaties by delivering a wing OF
some large bird; and this custom still pre-
walls among the more western nations.
In tranSactlng business with the Delawar-
es. But the Dele wares themselves, the
lroquois, and the nations in league with
them are now sufficiently provided with
handsome and well-wrought strings and
wan,pum. Upon the delivery Of tho
string, long speech may be made and
much said upon the subject under con-
slderatioD, but when a 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 important
senterce, he delivers String of wampum
adding. Il give this string OF wampom as
contirma ION of what have spoken;'
but the chief subject of his discourse he
con ntirms with belt. The answers given
to speech thus delivered must also be
confirmed by strings and belts Of wan-
pun, Of the same size and number as
those received. Neither the color nor
the other qualities Of wampum are mat
terS of Indifference, but have an immed-
late reference to those things which they
are meant to confirm. The brown or
deep violet, called black by the Indians,
always means something Of severe or
doubtful import; but the white is the
color of peace. Thus, if a strlng,or belt
of wampun is intended to confirm a
warning against evil or an earnest re-
proof. it is delivered in black. When
a nation is called upon to so TO war, or
war is declared against 1t, the belt is
black, or marked with red, called 10y them
the color Of blood, having in the figure
Of hatchet in white wampun.
"The Indian women are very dexter.
Gus in weaving tie string of wampuln
into belts, and marking them with dii-
ferent figures, perfectly $ agreeing with the
different subjects contained in the speecI.
These figures are marked with white
wainpuin upon black, and with black
upon the white belts. For example, in a
belt ofpeace, they very dexteronsly repre-
sent, in black wampum, two hands joins
ned. The belt OF peace is white, Ialhom
long and a hands breadth. They refer
to them as public records, careful
ly preserving them in chest made Tor
that purpose. Atcertain season they mee {
to study their meaning, and to renew the
ideas OF which they were an emblem or
confirmation. Tn such occasions they
set down arounl tlie chest, take out the
string or belt one a.ter another, handing
it about to every person present, and,
that they may AL comprehend It's mean
ing. repeat the words .proIoupced on It's
delivery ~ their whole convention. By
thes, means they are enabled to remem-
Der the promises reciprocally made by
the different parties; and 1t is their, GUS
tom to admit even the Voting boys who
are related to the chiefs TO their assem-
biles; they lie come early ac lpalnted with
all the affairs OF the State; thus the con
tents of their documents are transmitted
to posterity, and cannot be easily forgot
ten h4''t 'F''-t $50 aifH ~ {
1.-The following instance may serve to
show how we'll this mode of communlca
ton answers the purpose for recalling
subjects 10 their memory: A friend OF
mine, at Philadelphia. gave an Indian a
string of wampum, adding II am your
friend, aud will serve you. to the utm st
o: my power" Forty years afterwards
the Indian returned the string, saying
Brother, you give me this string o. wan-
pun, saying, am your friend, and viii!
serve you to the utmost of my power;
am now aged. infirm. and poor; do now
as you promised; and he generously Kept
his word" .'
REVERSE OF FoRTUNE-Compare the
| splendid apostrophe Of Burke to Maria
Autoinette. in the day Of her radiant
state and loveiiness, with the anne xed
entry made by the sexton in the record
Of the Madelaine: "Paid seven francs for
coffin :or the Widow Capet'' 30 y
PAPER IN HAvANA.---The manufscture
Of paper has been commenced in, Havana
by company with capital of $4,000.