It was in use by the Europeans as a medium of trade with the Indians, as well as among themselves, by the Indians especially for the manufacture of their historic peace, tribute, treaty and war belts, called Paumaimck {Pau-pau-mennmzve, Mass.), "an offering."* Meitoiiawack, the material, Waufaaeek and Sczvaun, the colors ; Paumanack, the use, "an offering." The suffix of either term {hock, hagki, hackee) is generic for shell •-- correctly, "An ear-shaped shell." (Trumbull.) Substantially, by the corruption of the suffix to hacki (Del.), "land" or place, the several terms, as applied to the island, have the meaning, " The shell island," or "Place of shells." De Laet wrote, in 1624: "At

* " Meteauhock, the Periwinkle of which they made their wampum." (WilHams.) "Perhaps derived from Mehtauog, 'Ear-shaped,' with the generic suffix hock {hogki, hackee), 'shell.'" (Trumbull.) ' Wompompeag is another form quoted as Mohegan, from which Wompiim. " Wompom, which signifies white." (Roger Williams.) ^ Seahivhoog, 'they are scattered.' (Eliot.) From this word the Dutch traders gave the name of Scivan, or Zeawand, to all shell money; just as the English called all Peag, or strung beads, by the name of the white. Wampum." (Trumbull.) * An interpretation of Paumanack as indicating a people especially under tribute, is erroneous. The belts which they made were in universal use among the nations as an offering, the white belts denoting good, as peace, friendship, etc., the black, the reverse. The ruling sachem, or peace-chief, was the keeper and interpreter of the belts of his nation, and his place sornetimes took its name from that fact. That several of the sachems did sign their names, or that their names were signed by some one for them, " Sachem of Pammananuck," to the island. proves nothing in regard to the application of that name