Chap. 24.] MODE OF TESTING PAPER. 189 



as "emporetica," 17 it is quite useless for writing upon, and is 

 only employed for wrapping up other paper, and as a covering 

 for various articles of merchandize, whence its name, as being 

 used by dealers. After this comes the bark of the papyrus, 

 the outer skin of which bears a strong resemblance to the 

 bulrush, and is solely used for making ropes, and then only 

 for those which have to go into the water. 18 



All these various kinds of paper are made upon a table, 

 moistened with Nile water ; a liquid which, when in a 

 muddy state, has the peculiar qualities of glue. 19 This table 

 being first inclined, 20 the leaves of papyrus are laid upon it 

 lengthwise, as long, indeed, as the papyrus will admit of, the 

 jagged edges being cut off at either end ; after which a cross 

 layer is placed over it, the same way, in fact, that hurdles are 

 made. "When this is done, the leaves are pressed close together, 

 and then dried in the sun ; after which they are united to one 

 another, the best sheets being always taken first, and the infe- 

 rior ones added afterwards. There are never more than 

 twenty of these sheets to a roll. 21 



CHAP. 24. THE MODE OF TESTING THE GOODNESS OF PAPEK. 



There is a great difference in the breadth of the various 

 kinds of paper. That of best quality 23 is thirteen fingers wide, 

 while the hieratica is two fingers less. The Eanniana is ten 

 fingers wide, and that known as " amphitheatrica," one less. 

 The Saitic is of still smaller breadth, indeed it is not so 

 wide as the mallet with which the paper is beaten ; and the 

 emporetica is particularly narrow, being not more than six 

 fingers in breadth. 



In addition to the above particulars, paper is esteemed 

 according to its fineness, its stoutness, its whiteness, and its 

 smoothness. Claudius Csesar effected a change in that which 



17 "Shop-paper," or "paper of commerce." 



18 Otherwise, probably, the rope would not long hold together. 



19 Fee remarks, that this is by no means the fact. With M. Poiret, he 

 questions the accuracy of Pliny's account of preparing the papyrus, and is 

 of opinion that it refers more probably to the treatment of some other 

 vegetable substance from which paper was made. 



20 Primo supina tabulae scheda. 



21 "Scapus." This was, properly, the cylinder on which the paper was 

 rolled. 



22 Augustan. 



