wand (wond)

[ = Dan. vaand = Goth. wand us, a rod; so called from its pliancy, A toppe of it to sette other a wonde Ys hold on best right in Apriles ende, When grene, and juce upon hem do the ascende. Palladius , Husbondrie (E. E. T. S.), p. 123. There was no currency, before this time,. unle we choose to give the name of currency to the wampum , or wampum peage (as it is more properly called), of the Indians. Peage was the name of the substance, which was of two kinds-black and white. Wampum , or wom pum , is the Indian word for white, and as the white kind was the most common, wampum peage got to be the common name of this substance, which was usually abbrevi 2t. A twig; a bough. ated into wampum. The black peage consisted of the small round spot in the inside of the shell, which is still usually called in this neighborhood by its Indian name of quahog. These round pieces were broken away from the rest of the shell, brought to a smooth and regular shape, drilled through the center, and strung on threads. The white peage was the twisted end of several small shells, broken off from the main part. These portions of shell, thus strung, were worn as bracelets and necklaces, and wrought into belts of curious workmanship. They thus po e ed an intrinsic value with the natives, for the purposes of ornament; and they were readily taken by them in exchange for their furs. E. Everett, Orations, I. 124. wampum-snake (wom'pum-snāk), n. The red bellied snake, Farancia abacura, a harmle colubrine serpent of the United States. See cut under Farancia. wamsutta (wom-sut'ä), n. Cotton cloth made at the Wamsutta Mills, New Bedford, Ma achusetts.