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scarlet and purple. Many of the cloths present various patterns 
worked in colour by the loom. The colour is rich enough to vie 
with the Babylonian cloth embroidered with the needle. The 
manner in which these tapestries were wrought is now unknown. 
The coloured dresses worn by ladies of rank, and with which also 
the deities were clothed, are said to resemble modern chintzes in 
the style of their patterns. What the rich silks of China and 
France, or the beautiful lace of Belgium are to us, so the fine linen 
and embroidered work of Egypt were among contemporary nations. 
The more luxurious the habits of the people, the more these 
articles were valued and used. 
All the perfection in the making and finishing of the fine 
linens of Egypt, and in the production of embroidered work, has 
passed away many ages ago. The glory of Egyptian artistic skill, 
the handiwork of skilled artisans who lived from three to four . 
thousand years ago, lies buried in the mummy pits, or amidst the 
ruins of the splendid palaces, temples, and tombs. War and 
oppression—the grinding oppression of irresponsible rulers—have 
crushed the spirit out of the people, and deprived them of all 
motives for industry. Under the dominion of the Turk there was 
scant security for life and property, and Egypt as a nation has sunk 
down into the lowest depths of weakness and degradation. 
After what has been said in reference to Egypt, a few words 
may be added on the linen made and used in Palestine. The 
Israelites on quitting Egypt carried with them a vast quantity of 
valuable articles, as is clearly shown by the varied and extensive 
offerings of the people for the furnishings of the tabernacle, 
amongst which was blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, 
and goat’s hair. They had also learnt the art of weaving, and of 
constructing looms and all other implements and machinery for 
the production of the articles required for the tabernacle, and 
other purposes. It is related that ‘all the women who were wise 
hearted (among the Israelites) did spin with their hands, and 
brought that which they had spun (an offering unto the Lord), of 
blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen of the weaver.” 
Linen would thus appear to have entered largely into the 
