334 plint's NATUEAL HISTOEY. [Book VIII. 



native, 2^ are found in Spain ; PoUentia, in the vicinity of the 

 Alp3,^* produces black fleeces of the best quality ; Asia, as well 

 as B^etica,^^ the red fleeces, which are called Erythraean ; those 

 of Canusium are of a tawny colour ; '^ and those of Tarentum 

 have their peculiar dark tint.^' All kinds of wool, when not 

 freed from the grease, ^^ possess certain medicinal properties. 

 The wool of Istria is much more like hair than wool, and is 

 not suitable for the fabrication of stufl's that have a long nap f^ 

 so too is that which Salacia,^^ in Lusitania, finds the most useful 

 for making its chequered cloths. There is a similar wool, too, 

 found about Piscenae,^^ in the province of Narbonensis, as also 

 in Egypt ; a garment, when it has been worn for some time, 

 is often embroidered with this wool, and will last for a con- 

 siderable time. 



The thick, flocky wool has been esteemed for the manu- 

 facture of carpets from the very earliest times; it is quite 

 clear, from what we read in Homer, that they were in use in 

 his time.^^ The Gauls embroider them in a difl'erent manner 

 from that which is practised by the Parthians.^^ Wool is 



2' " Quas nativas appellant." The term " nativa," as applied to the 

 wool, has been supposed to refer to those fleeces that possess a natural 

 colour, and do not require to be dyed. — B. 



2* Martial, B. xiv. Ep. 157, calls the fleeces of Pollentia "lugentes," 

 "mournful," from their black colour; they are also mentioned by Colu- 

 mella, tibi supra., and by Silius Italicus, B. viii. 1. 599. — B. 



-5 Martial, B. v. c. 37, describing the charms of a lady, says, "sur- 

 passing with her locks the fleece of the Baetic sheep," no doubt referring 

 to the colour. In another Epigram, B. xii. E. 200, he speaks of the 

 " aurea vellera," the " golden fleece" of Beetis. — B. 



26 Martial has two Epigrams on the wool of Canusium, B. xiv. E. 127, 

 and E. 129. In the former it is designated as " fusca," tawny ; in the 

 latter, "rufa," red. — B. 27 " Suae pulliginis." — B. 



2s The term here used, " succidus," is explained by Yarro, B. ii. c. 11 : 

 "While the newly-clipped wool has the sweat in it, it is called ' succida.' " 

 See B. xxix. c. 9. 



29 *' Pexis vestibus." According to Hardouin, the "pexa vestis," wasi 

 worn by the rich, and bad a long and prominent nap, in contradistinction 

 to the smooth or worn cloths. He refers to a passage in Horace, B. i. Ep. i. 

 1. 95, and to one in Martial^ B. ii. E. 58, which appear to sanction thi8« 

 explanation. See Lem. vol. iii. p. 524. — B. 



30 See B. iv. c. 35. ^i See B. iii. c. 5. Now Pezenas 

 33 Kai priyta KflXd 



IXop^vp' iju/BaXeav, aropsaai 5' tcpvTrtpOt TcnrrjTaQ. 

 Od. B. iv. 1. 427. " And to throw on fair coverlets of purple, and to lay| 

 carpets upon them." 

 33 These were probably much like what we call " Tiukey" carpets. 



