[Frederic Shonnard & W.W. Spooner (1900)] The blue or violet portions of the shells furnished the material for the dark wampum, which was held in much higher estimation than that made of the white portions, or of the spines of certain univalves. According to Roger Williams, one of the earliest New England writers on the Indians, six of the white beads and three of the blue were equivalent to an English penny. The author of an instructive treatise on k' Ancient and Aboriginal Trade in North America"1 (from which some of the details in the preceding pages are taken) says of the wampum belts, so often mentioned in connec-tion with the history of the eastern tribes: Thev consisted of broad straps of leather, upon which white and blue wampum-beads were sewed In rows, being so arranged that by the contrast of the light and dark colors certain figures were produced. The Indians, it is well known, exchanged these belts at the conclu-sion of peace, and on other solemn occasions, in order to ratify the transaction, and to per-petuate the remembrance of the event. When sharp admonitions or threatening demonstra-tions were deemed necessary, the wampum belts likewise played a part, and they were even sent as challenges of war.