Value of Blue Beads

On January 17th, 1806, Meriwether Lewis wrote:

This morning we were visited by Comowool and 7 of the Clatsops our nearest neighbours, who left us again in the evening. They brought with them some roots and buries for sale, of which however they disposed of but very few as they asked for them such prices as our stock in trade would not license us in giving, the Chief Comowool gave us some roots and buries for which we gave him in return a mockerson awl and some thread; the latter he wished for the purpose of making a skiming net. one of the party was dressed in t[h]ree very eligant Sea Otter skins which we much wanted; for these we offered him many articles but he would not dispose of them for any other consideration but blue beads, of these we had only six fathoms left, which being 4 less than his price for each skin he would not exchange nor would a knife or an equivalent in beads' of any other colour answer his purposes, these coarse blue beads are their f[av]orite merchandiz, and are called by them tia Gommdshuck or Chiefs beads. the best wampum is not so much esteemed by them as the most inferior beads. (Lewis, from Moulton V.6, 214-215)

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