Note 218 — THE WAMPANOAGS IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY An Ethnohistorical Study

A “belt” of wampum might range in size from one to five or more inches wide; Williams, pp. 177-78. Willoughby, p. 271, cites a contemporary account of wampum belts owned by King Philip: “One of King Philip’s belts, ‘curiously wrought with black and white wampum in various figures and flowers and pictures of many birds and beasts’ was nine inches broad, and when hung about Captain Church’s shoulders reached to his ankles. Philip had two other belts, one with two flags upon the back which hung from his head, the other with a star upon the end which hung from his breast. When Philip visited Boston he wore a coat and leggings, set with wampum ‘in pleasant wild works’ and a broad belt of the same.”