Chap. 58.] AttOEXTARIA. 



the people/ 7 BO attentive to everything we^e cur ancestors. 

 The following then is the method employed in preparing 

 cloth : it is first washed in an infusion of Sardinian earth, and 

 is then exposed to a fumigation with sulphur. This done, it is 

 scoured 4 * with Cimolian earth, when the cloth has been found 

 to he of a genuine colour ; it being very soon detected when it 

 has been coloured with spurious materials, by its turning 

 black and the colours becoming dispersed 50 by the action of the 

 sulphur. "NVhere the colours are genuine and rich, they arc 

 softened by the application of Cimolian earth ; which brightens 

 and freshens them also when they have been rendered sombre 

 by the action of the sulphur. JSaxum is better for white tissues, 

 after the application of sulphur, but to coloured cloths it is 

 highly injurious. 51 In Greece they use Tymplneau 5 - gypsum in 

 place of Cimolian earth. 



CHAP. 58. AKGENTAIUA. JfAMKS OF FUEEDMEN WHO ITAVK 



KIT11KK IUSKN TO I'OWKU THEMSELVES, OK HAVE BELONGED TO 

 MKN OF INFLUENCE. 



There is another cretaceous earth, known as " argcntaria," 53 

 from the brightness" which it imparts to silver. There is also 

 the most inferior kind of chalk ; which was used by the 

 ancients for tracing the line of victory 55 in the Circus, and for 

 marking the feet of slaves on sale, that were brought from 

 beyond sea. Such, for instance, were Publilius* Lochius, the 



47 As a plebiscitum. 



Pesmiumatur." This is most probably the meaning of the word, 

 though Bcctmann observes '* that it was undoubtedly a term of art, which 

 cannot be further explained, because we are unacquainted with the opera- 

 tion to which it alluues." Vol II. p. 104. JSoJins Editinn. 



40 "Funditnr sulphure. 1 ' The meaning of these words is very doubt- 

 ful. Bcckmann proposes to read '*tIYnditur," but he is not supported 

 by any of the 31SS. Uu has evidently mistaken the meaning of the 

 whole passage. 



M Probably because it was too calcareous, Heckraann thinks. 



52 See B. iv. c. 3, and B. xxxvi. c. 59. 



53 Plate powder; from 4 argcntum," * 4 silver." See B. xvii. c. 4. 



M \Vhitcning, or chalk washed and prepared, is still used for this pur- 

 pose. w The goal for the cnariots. 



46 This reading is restored by Siliig from the fiambtrg MS., but no 

 particulars are known relative to the person alluded to ; unless, indeed, 

 of Stllig suspects to be the case, he is identical with Publius Syrua, the 

 writer of mimes, mentioned in B. viii. c. 77. 



