Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-11-06
THE MINT WAMPUM.
On an Island Near the CITY of
New York.
WHERE THE INDIANS MADE MONEY.
They Ate of the CLANS and Made Their
Shells Into Currency-Evideneeo of
Their Handiereft.
WHERE THE INDIANS MADE MONEY

Island, the Queens County Aims House
Farm, three skeletons were dug up
These were unquestionably the re-
mains of Indians although no weapons
or utensils of any sort were found with
them. Whenever any excavation of
considerable area is made on the island
skeletons have been found, usually in
a state of excellent preservation.
There arc lpeculiarties about these
skeletons, ore especially about their
skulls, particularly the extraordinary
size and perfection of the teeth. by
which their Indian origin can be deter
mined. The most frequent posture of
the bodies discovered is that of sitting
with, the face to the east. Orientation
seems to have been part of or the re-
suit of their religion.
The face toward the rising sun is a
sure Indication that the remains are
those of an Indian. 1t was not,
strictly speaking, orientation, but the
body was inferred in a sitting posture
facing the sun as it rose in the east,
and it is possible probable that the GER
emony occurred at sunrise. The posi-
tion of the body might, therefore, de-
termine the season of burial.
Barnum Island was formerly called
Hog Island, a name, by the way, said
to have been given it because in the
earlier days of the colonists it was
common pasturage for hogs. 1t was
no doubt a common headquarters for
the Indians who lived ON the upland,
probably the Rockaway tribe. There
is unmistakable evidence that it was
what might be called great manufac-
turing center. No doubt the chief
product of the island was wampum
and the great shell bank known as In
dian Hill, along the north side of the
island, is evidence of the extent of the
industry. Although this bank or de-
posit of shells has been drawn upon to
build roads and for fertilizing purposes
for several hundred years, it is still at
least 100 feet square and extends or
feet below the bottom of the creek.
Thousands of bushels of these shells
have been taken to be put on the land
to make the Barnum Island road, but
still the supply seems lnexuhastible.
In Thompson's history of Long
Island. wampum, and the process of
manufacturing it is described at length.
Wampum (from wampi, signifying
white) shells or strings of shells, some-
times called wampumpeague, or wam-
pumpeage, of which wampum is con-
traction. Seawam was the name of In
dian money, of which there are two
kinds, wompum (Which signifies white)
and suckauhock( sucki signifying black.
Wompum or white money was made of
the stem or stock of the metauhock of
periwinkle; suckauhock, or black money
was manufactured from the inside of the
shell of the cuahaug venus mercenaria)
a round thick she'll, fish. The Indians
broke off about half an inch of the
purple color of the inside and con-
verted into beads. These were bored
with sharp stones and strung upon
sinews of beasts. and when interviewer
to the breadth of a hand or less were
called belt of seawan or wompam.
A black bead the size of straw about
one-third of an inch long, bored longi-
tudinally and we'll polished, was the
gold of the Indians, and always es-
teemed of twice the value of the white.
The seawan was mot only money as we
understand the term, but was used for
ornament and as insignia of wealth
and Importance. Seawan was the seal
of contract and the oath of fidelity.
1t satisfied murders and all other in
juries. purchased peace and entered into
the religious as we'll as the civil cere-
monies of the natives. The seawan
was manufactured most abundantly ON
Long Island, which abounded in shells
and called for this reason seawan
hacky, or the Island of Shells. The
poquanhock, or quahang and the peri
winkle, were extremely plentiful. The
immense quantity that was manufac-
tured may account for the fact that in
the most extensive she'll banks left by
the Indians it is rare to find whole
shell, having all been broken in the
process of making wampum. And it is
not unlikely that many of the largest
heaps of shells are the remains Of wam-
pun manufactory.
1t is probable that in the manufac-
ture of wampum the CLANS were first
taken from the shells and either eaten
or prepared for future use. The pro
cess of preparing the CLANS was very
curious. 1t is said that they were par
TALLY roasted or heated sufficiently to
open the shells, when they were taken
out and dried. They were then strung
upon dried grass, or the sinews of ami
mails. and kept for winter use. When
wanted for use they were soaked in
hot water and were said to be very pal
atable. Fish were also preserved in
the same way.
The relics which evidence the handi-
craft of the Indians consist chiefly OF