390 plint's natueal histoet. [Book XXII. 



Avith it both matrons and girls* among tlie people of Britain 

 are in the habit of staining the body all over, when taking 

 part in the performance of certain sacred rites ; rivalling 

 hereby the swarthy hue of the ^Ethiopians, they go in a state 

 of nature. 



CHAP. 3. (2.) EMPLOYMENT OF PLANTS FOE DYEING. EXPLANA- 

 TION OF THE TEB.MS SAGMEN, VEKBENA, AND CLARIGATIO. 



We know, too, that from plants are extracted admirable 

 colours for dyeing; and, not to mention the berries^ of Galatia,^ 

 Africa, and Lusitania, which furnish the coccus, a dye re- 

 served for the military costume' of our generals, the people of 

 Gaul beyond the Alps produce the Tyrian colours, the conchy- 

 liated,^ and all the other hues, by the agency of plants^ alone. 

 They have not there to seek the murex at the bottom of the 

 sea, or to expose themselves to be the prey of the monsters of 

 the deep, while tearing it from their jaws, nor have they to go 

 searching in depths to which no anchor has penetrated — and 

 all this for the purpose of finding the means Avhereby some 

 mother of a family may appear more charming in the eyes of 

 her paramour, or the seducer may make himself more captivat- 

 ing to the wife of another man. Standing on dry land, the 

 people there gather in their dyes just as we do our crops of 



colour. The root of this Celtic "wcmd is probably '' glas," *'blue," whence 

 also our word " glass ;" and it is not improbable that the name of glass- 

 was given to it from tlio blue tints which it presented, Julius Caesar and 

 Poraponius Mela translate this word " glastum," by the Latin " vitrum," 

 "glass." 



* "Conjuges nurusque." Caesar says that all the people in Britain were 

 in the habit of staining the body with woad, to add to the horror of their 

 appearance in battle. Poraponius Mela expresses himself as uncertain for 

 Avhat purpose it was done, whether it was to add to their beauty, or for 

 some other reasons to him unknown. 



s " Granis." What the ancients took to be a vegetable substance, is 

 now known to be an insect, the kermes of the Quercus coccifera. 



6 See B. ix. c. 63. 



■^ " Paludamentis." The " paludaraentum" was the cloak worn by a 

 Roman general when in command, his principal officers, and personal at- 

 tendants. It was open in front, reached to the knees or thereabout, and 

 hung over the shoulders, being fastened across the chest by a clasp. It 

 was commonly white or purple, 



8 For an account of all these colours see B. ix. cc. 60 — 65, 



* The vaccinium for instance. See B. xvi. c. 31. 



