The journals of the Vitas Bering expedition of 1741 contains the earliest reference to glass beads in Alaska. There were already beads in Alaska when Bering dropped anchor in the Alutian Island chain. Since trade goods went from east to west it is not far fetched to believe that trade goods also went from west to east. Among the trade goods from the east had to be glass trade beads. This information is documented in early and modern history books. The porcilane beads were cheaply purchased by English, French, Dutch, and independant traders. They were traded to our American Indian peoples at very high prices. Most of the first glass beads in North America were the white tile beads, small blue faceted beads,and reddish colored green heart beads. All of which were cheap to buy.