70 (p. 269).--_Porcelain, which is the diamonds and pearls of this country_: According to Littre, _porcelain_ (a word of Italian origin; adopted, with slight variations, into nearly all European languages) was a name given, from very early times, to a univalvular, gastropodous mollusk, _Cypræa;_ especially used for the species _C. moneta_, the money cowry of Africa and the East Indies, and for its shell. The same term was applied to the nacre (from which were made vases, ornaments, etc.) obtained from the shells of this and many other mollusks; and the enameled pottery brought from the Orient about the 16th century was also called "porcelain," from its resemblance to this nacre. The early explorers on this continent found shells, or beads made therefrom, everywhere in use among the natives as currency. Cartier mentions this article as called "esurgny" by the Indians at Montreal; Champlain and other French writers applied the term already familiar to them, "porcelain;" the English colonists adopted the name in use among the natives of New England, "wampum" (from _wompi_, "white"); while the Dutch traders called it "sewan" (seawant, or zee-wand; a corruption of _seah-whóun_, "scattered, loose"). An interesting account of this Indian money is given by Roger Williams, in his _Key into the Language of America_ (London, 1643),--reprinted, with careful and extensive annotations (mainly philological) by J. H. Trumbull, in _Publications of the Narragansett Club_, vol. i. (Providence, R. I., 1866). In chap. xxvi. of this work, pp. 173-178, "Concerning their Coyne," the author says: "The _Indians_ are ignorant of Europes Coyne; yet they have given a name to ours, and call it _Monêash_ from the _English_ Money. Their own is of two sorts; one white, which they make of the stem or stocke of the _Periwincle_, which they call Meteaûhock, when all the shell is broken off: and of this sort six of their small beads (which they make with holes to string the bracelets) are currant with the _English_ for a peny. The second is black, inclining to blew, which is made of the shell of a fish which some _English_ call _Hens_, Poquaûhock, and of this sort three make an _English_ peny.... This one fathom of this their stringed money, now worth of the English but five shillings (sometimes more), some few yeeres since was worth nine, and sometimes ten shillings per Fathome: the fall is occasioned by the fall of Beaver in _England_: the Natives are very impatient, when for English commodities they pay so much more of their money, and not understanding the cause of it; and many say the English cheat and deceive them, though I have laboured to make them understand the reason of it.... Their white they call _Wompam_ (which signifies white): their black _Suckduhock_ (_Súcki_ signifying blacke). Both amongst themselves, as also the English and Dutch, the blacke peny is two pence white: the blacke fathom double, or two fathom of white.