Wampum Strings

Reprinted from Wampum Belts of the Iroquois by Tehanetorens

It is provided thus: Any Chief of the League of the Five Nations may construct shell strings or wampum belts of any size or length as pledges or records of matters of national or international importance. When it is necessary to dispatch a shell string by a war chief or messenger as a token of a summons, the messenger shall recite the contents of the string to the party to whom it is sent. That party will repeat the message and return the shell string, and if there has been a summons, he shall make ready for his journey. Any of the people of the Five Nations may use shells or wampum as the record of a pledge, contract, or an agreement entered into, and the same shall be binding as soon as the shell strings shall have been exchanged by both parties.

It is provided thus: When a Chief of the League dies, the surviving relatives shall immediately dispatch a messenger, a member of another clan, to the chiefs in another locality. When the runner comes within hailing distance of the locality, he shall utter a sad wail thusly, “Kwa-ah! Kwa!” The sound shall be repeated three times and then again and again at intervals as many times as the distance shall require. When the runner arrives at the settlement, the people shall assemble at the Council House, and one must ask him the nature of his sad message. He shall then say, “Let us consider (Rakwennikooriak).” Then he shall tell them of the death of the Chief. He shall deliver to them a string of shells or wampum and say, “Here is the testimony. You have heard the message.” He may return home. It now becomes the duty of the Chiefs of the locality to send runners to other localities, and each locality shall send messengers until all Chiefs are notified. Runners shall travel night and day.

It is provided thus: When the Chiefs of the League take occasion to dispatch a messenger on behalf of the Council of the League, they shall wrap up any matter they may send, and instruct the messenger to remember his errand, to turn not aside but to proceed faithfully to his destination and deliver his message according to every instruction.

It is provided thus: If a message borne by a runner is the warning of an invasion, he shall whoop, “Kwa-ah! Kwa-ah!” twice and repeat at short intervals, then again at a longer interval. If a human is found dead, the finder shall not touch the body, but return home immediately, shouting at short intervals, “Koo-weh!”