Before the introduction of awls and thread from Europe, these beads were bored longitudinally with sharp stones and strung upon the sinews of animals. 'Their Merchandise,' said Josselyn, in speaking of the Indian commerce, 'are their beads which are their money; of these there are two sorts: blue beads and white beads; the first is their gold, the last their silver; these they work out of certain shells so cunning that neither Jew nor Devil can counterfeit; they drill them and string them and make many curious works with them to adorn the persons of their sagamores and principal young men and women, as belts, girdles, tablets, borders for their women's hair, bracelets, necklaces, and links to hang in their ears. Prince Phillip, a little before I came from England, had a coat on and buskins set thick with these beads in pleasant wild works -- and a wide belt of the same; -- his accoutrements were valued at twenty pounds.' With this Seawan, commonly called Wampum, the Indians paid tribute, redeemed captives, atoned for murders and other wrongs, and purchased peace with their more powerful neighbors as occasion required. It was the seal of a contract and the oath of fidelity. In the form of a belt it was sent with all public messages, and sometimes-- marked with curious hieroglyphics -- was preserved as a record of important transactions between rival tribes. A message sent without

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.

the belt was spurned as an empty word. The return of a belt was understood as the rejection of an offer or of the terms accompanying the same. A string of 'Sea wan' was sometimes delivered by the orator in public council at the close of each proposition as ratifying the speaker's truth and sincerity. Strings of 'Wampum' were occasionally tied around the neck of a white dog, and the animal thus decorated was fastened to a pole and offered up as a sacrifice to 'Thalonghyawaagon,' the upholder of the skies.