TYEIAN PURPLE. 117 



containing solely the remains of the Murex hrandaris, Des- 

 hayes at first regarded them as evidences of some geological 

 phenomenon. I'nrther consideration^ however^ led to a 

 different conclusion, and after carefully examining the heaps 

 of shells, in connection with several concurring testimonies, 

 he discovered that these vestiges of old times were uni- 

 formly in the vicinity of some ancient ruin, among wliicii 

 were clear indications of their having been nsed for the 

 manufacture of purple. 



Old legends tell that the ancients were indebted for this 

 discovery to the accidental circumstance of a shepherd^s dog 

 having stained his mouth when breaking a shell on the 

 sea-shore, and that the colour, having excited the admiration 

 of all who saw it, was applied to the dyeing of silk. 



Some historians assign this event to the reign of Phoenix, 

 king of Tyre, who flourished rather more than three 

 hundred years before the Christian era ; others, to the time 

 when Minos reigned in Crete, about fourteen centuiies pre- 

 vious to the advent of our Lord. But the greater number 

 ascribe the honour of this discovery to the Tyrian Hercules. 

 This renowned hero is said to have presented the first efforts 

 of his ingenuity to the King of Phcenicia, who was so much 



