AMERICAN INDUSTRIES SINCE COLUMBUS. 181 



yarns out of which the clothing of the people was made before the 

 Christian era and for centuries later. 



Illustrations are given of the distaff and spindle of ancient 

 Egypt, taken thence to Greece, Rome, Padua, Miletus, referred to 



Fig. 4. A Primitive Spindle. 



so frequently in the Scriptures, and still used in parts of India 

 and elsewhere. For at least thirty centuries no other means of 

 spinning was employed. 



The Egyptians wove in an upright loom, beginning at the top 

 and weaving downward, so as to sit at their work. In Palestine 

 the loom was also upright, but the weaver, weaving upward, was 

 obliged to stand. There was also a horizontal loom of very 

 ancient date, the earliest known of which was sold in London, 

 together with some " staves," " shuttles/' and a " stay/' in 1316. 



Just what the primitive hand-loom was we know to exactness, 

 for there are still countries in which it is used, particularly in the 

 manufacture of carpets, precisely as it was used before the Chris- 

 tian era. Ouskak, the seat of the Smyrna carpet industry, where 

 five hundred looms are kept busy, illustrates the strength of tra- 

 dition in resisting innovation as well perhaps as any locality in 

 the world. Here to-day may be seen the female population of the 

 town busily at work, sitting crosswise at the foot of their looms, 

 often as many as ten in a row, each working at a two-foot width 

 of carpet. Their looms consist of two thick poles fixed firmly in 

 the ground ; two others are joined, one above and one below, and 

 to these the warp or chain of the carpet is fastened. The yarn is 

 taken from bobbins suspended above their heads and tied to the 

 warp. It is then cut with a sharp knife and the pile and woof 

 driven together by means of a comb. 



This primitive method of manufacture has the advantage of 

 permitting a looser texture than is possible where power is used, 

 and in consequence the colors blend more readily and beautifully, 

 and the carpet is soft and pliant to the tread. 



The Romans carried the art of wool manufacture to the high- 

 est point of perfection that it reached in ancient times. They be- 

 stowed the utmost pains upon the improvement of their breeds of 

 sheep, and the fleeces of their finer animals sold for fabulous prices. 

 Woolen garments formed almost the exclusive attire of the Ro- 

 mans, male and female, of every rank, and the enormous supplies 

 of clothing sent to their armies prove that the manufacture must 

 have afforded occupation to large masses of the people. Pliny's 



