This attempt to determine the possible origins of 16th century glass beads used in Spanish Colonial trade discusses the available historical evidence, the glass bead manufacturing processes, bead classification and description, and all known occurrences of these particular beads. No conclusion is reached regarding the origin of the distinctive square section cane beads. (Abstractor's note: The study's hypothesis of an African source has already been challenged forlack of evidence of any cane bead found in Africa from the Colonial period or later.) -- AATA