On the Fur Trade, and Fur-bearing Animals. 313 
crossed the sea and river which are. frozen in winter to a considera- 
ble.extent ;. set fire to the houses, drove off the cattle, and either mas- 
sacred or made captives of the inhabitants. To the Romans enjoy- 
ing the security and luxuries of the metropolis, a hairy cloak might 
well be associated with ideas of disgust and dread, from the accounts 
given: by the terrified poet, of those fur clad marauders.* Tacitus, in 
describing the most barbarous of the German tribes, says, *‘ the Fenni 
are like wild beasts, without arms, horses, or homes; their food is the 
wild herb, their clothing skins, their resting place the ground.” The 
poet Claudian too, relating a victory won over the Getae who had pen- 
etrated Greece, says, ‘‘ the furred youth are mown down, their wag- 
gons. swim in gore :” and in another poein he satirizes the minister 
Rufinus, for appearing on the seat of justice wrapped in fur ;. in imi- 
tation of, or in compliment to, his body guard of Scythians. The 
whole northern and eastern frontier of the Roman Empire was oc- 
cupied by warlike and savage tribes, whose ordinary covering was 
of furs, except near some. of the garrisons, where they had been 
taught the use of cloth, by long intercourse with the Romans.t 
When these barbarians had established themselves in Italy, they 
laid aside the coarser skins which had been essential to protect them 
from the cold of Sarmatia and more northern climates, and adopt- 
ed the light and beautiful fabrics “‘of Gallic and Italian looms ;” 
but they still retained their taste for the fine and more costly furs, 
which they employed for ostentatious Heat: rather than convenience 
or warmth. 
The choice and precious fars had been held in high esteem among 
the nobles of Persia, many of whom were of Scythian origin, al- 
though the climate did not render them essential, as in Scandinavia 
and Sarmatia. The rich and rare furs were obtained through the 
medium of commerce, to minister to their love of display and per- 
sonal distinction. 
In the 6th century cas became an afibie of commerce in de- 
mand at Rome, where they had so lately been held in abhorrence, 
The dreaded barbarians who had’ taken possession of the imperial 
territory, transplanted their own usages and tastes upon the enerva- 
ted metropolis. 
Sables were brought to Rome from the countries on the Baltic, 
and from the mountainous regions near the head waters of the Eu- 
* Aikin. t Idem. 
Vou. XXV.—No. 2. 40 
