Chap. 73.] DIPFERENT KIT^DS OP WOOL. 333 



covered sheep will feed on brambles even. The best coverings 

 for sheep are brought from Arabia." 



CHAP. 73. (43.) THE DIFFEEENT KINDS OF WOOL, AND THEIH 



The most esteemed wool of all is that of Apulia, and that 

 which in Italy is called Grecian wool, in other countries 

 Italian. The fleeces of Miletus hold the third rank.^' The 

 Apulian wool is shorter in the hair, and only owes its high 

 character to the cloaks ^^ that are made of it. That which 

 comes from the vicinity of Tarentum and Canusium is the most 

 celebrated ; and there is a wool from Laodicea, in Asia, of a 

 similar quality.^^ There is no white wool superior to that of 

 the countries bordering on the Padus,-° nor up to the present 

 day has any wool exceeded the price of one hundred sesterces 

 per pound.^^ The sheep are not shorn in all countries ; in some 

 places it is still the custom to pull off the wool.-'^ There are 

 various colours of wool ; so much so, indeed, that we want 

 teims to express them all. Several kinds, which are called 



15 We have some account of the Arabian sheep in ^lian, Anim. Nat. 

 B. X. 0. 4. — B. Columella says, that the wool which was brought over to 

 make these coverings, was only to be obtained at a very great price. 



1^ The greatest part of this Chapter appears to be taken, with little vari- 

 ation, from Columella, B. vii. c. 2 — 4. — B. 



1" Here Pliny differs from Columella, who remarks, B. vii. c. 2, " Our 

 people considered the Milesian, Calabrian, and Apulian wool as of excel- 

 lent quality, and the Tarentine the best of all." 



IS '< Pcenula" was a check cloak, used chiefly by the Romans when 

 ;ravelling, instead of the toga, as a protection against the cold and rain, 

 [t was used by women as well as men. It was long, and without sleeves, 

 md with only an opening for the head. Women were forbidden by Alex- 

 mder Severus to wear it in the city. It was made particularly of the 

 voolly substance known as gausapa. 



13 The wool of Laodicea is celebrated by Strabo, B. xii. — B. 



20 Columella, B. vii. c. 2, particularly notices the excellence of the wool 

 »f Altinum, situate near the mouth of the Padus or Po. The following 

 ■pigram of Martial, B. xiv. c. 155, may be presumed to convey the opinion 

 if the respective merits of the different kinds of wool ; it is entitled " Lanae 

 Ibre : " "Yelleribus primis Apulia; Parma secundis Xobilis ; Altinum 

 crtia laudat o\'is." " Apulia is famed for its fleeces of the first quality, 

 ^arma for the second, while Altinum is praised for those of the third." — B. 



21 About twelve shillings sterling. — B. 



22 Varro remarks, B. il. c. 2, that the term " vellus." obviously from 

 • vello," '* to pluck," proves that the wool was anciently plucked from the 

 heep, before shearing had been invented. — B. 



