The Indians are ignorant of Europes Coyne; yet they have given a name to ours, and call it Monèash from the English money.
Their owne 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.
They that live upon the Sea side generally make of it, and as many make as will.
The Indians bring downe all their sorts of Furs, which they take in the countrey, both to the Indians and to the English for this Indian Money: this Money the English, French and Dutch, trade to the Indians, six hundred miles in severall parts (North and South from New-England) for their Furres, and whatsoever they stand in need of from them: as Corne, Venison, &c.
Obs: This they call Neén, which is two of their Quáttuatues, or six pence.
| Piuckquaúmscat nabnashoàsuck, which they call Shwìn. | 18d. 3 quttáuatues. |
| Neesneecheckaúmscat nab yòh, or, yowin, | 2s. 4 quttáuatues. |
| Shwinchékaúmscat, or napannetashin, | 2s. 6d. 5 quttáuatues. |
| Shwinchekaúmscat, | 2s. 6d. 6 quttáuatues. |
| Yow innchekaúmscat nab neèse, | 3s. 6d. 7 quttáuatues. |
| Yowinncheckaúmscat nabnashòasuck, | 4s. 8 quttáuatues. |
| Napannetashwincheckáumscat nab yòh, | 4s. 6d. 9 quttáuatues. |
| Quttatashincheck aumscat, or more commonly used Puickquat, | 5s. 10 quttáuatues or 10 six pences. |
Obs: This Piúckquat being sixtie pence, they call Nquittómpeg, or Nquitnishcaûsu, that is, one fathom, 5 shillings.
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.