334 PLINY'S NATTJEAL HISTORY. [Book VIII. 



native, 23 are found in Spain ; Pollentia, in the vicinity of the 

 Alps, 24 produces black fleeces of the best quality ; Asia, as well 

 as Bsetica, 25 the red fleeces, which are called Erythrsean ; those 

 of Canusium are of a tawny colour ; 26 and those of Tarentum 

 have their peculiar dark tint. 27 All kinds of wool, when not 

 freed from the grease, 28 possess certain medicinal properties. 

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

 not suitable for the fabrication of stuffs that have a long nap ; 29 

 so too is that which Salacia, 30 in Lusitania, finds the most useful 

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

 found about Piscenae, 31 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. 32 The Gauls embroider them in a different manner 

 from that which is practised by the Parthians. 33 Wool is 



23 " 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. 



24 Martial, B. xiv. Ep. 157, calls the fleeces of Pollentia "higentes," 

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

 mella, ubi 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 Bsetic sheep," no doubt referring 

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

 " aurea vellera," the " golden fleece" of Bsetis. 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 " fusea," tawny ; in the 

 latter, "rufa," red. B. 27 " Su pulliginis." B. 



28 The term here used, " succidus," is explained by Varro, B. ii. c. 11 : 

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

 See B. xxix. c. 9. 



29 " Pexis vestibus." According to Hardouin, the "pexa vestis," was 

 worn by the rich, and had 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 Martialj B. ii. E. 58, which appear to sanction this 

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



30 See B. iv. c. 35. 31 See B. iii. c. 5. Now Pezenas. 



32 Kai priyta KO\CL 



Hoptyvp' tiipaXeeiv, ffropeaai ' tyvTrepQe TaTr^raq. 

 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 " Turkey" carpets. 



