THE RAISING 



OF 



SILK WORMS. 



PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS 



TESTIMONY FROM CHINESE AUTHORS, 



WHO SPEAK OF THE CULTIVATION OF THE MULBERRY, AND THE 

 RAISING OF SILK WORMS, FROM THE MOST ANCIENT TIMES, (4438 

 YEARS AGO,) DOWN TO THE YEAR 976 OF THE CHRISTIAN ERA. 



In the Book on Silk Worms we read : 



" The lawful wife of the Emperor Hoang-li, named Si- 

 ling-chi, began the culture of silk." 



It was at that time that the Emperor, Hoang-ti^ invented 

 the art of making garments. 



OBSERVATIONS BY THE TRANSLATOR. 



The same fact is mentioned, more in detail, in the Gene- 

 ral History of China, by P. Mailla, in the year 2602, be- 

 fore our era, (4438 years ago.) 



"This great Prince, (Hoang-ti^) was desirous that Si- 

 ling-chi, his legitimate wife, should contribute to the happi- 



