MODE OF MANUFACTURING PAPYRUS. 



37 



upper and lower extremities of which were rejected*), which 

 was divided longitudinally into small thin plates. These 

 were placed side by side, and then others put across them to 

 strengthen and unite them. The whole was dried with a 

 woollen cloth, and, after some other preparations, rendered fit 

 for writing upon.f The papyrus is still found in the river 

 Anapus near Syracuse, where it was probably transported 

 by Hiero (or some of the other tyrants of Syracuse) from 

 Egypt. 



Papyrus. 



ESTHER. 



How I should like to see it growing! 



MRS. F. 



The Syracusan farmers used to cut it to bind up their 

 sheaves of corn; but this custom is now prohibited ; and the 



* This portion of the stalk served to make an inferior description 

 of paper. 



t De Jorio. J Denon. 



According to Pliny the roots of the papyrus served for fuel, and 

 the bark was converted into sails, mats, and ropes; its juice was ap- 

 plied to medicinal purposes; the farina of the flower afforded the 

 strongest gluten; its stalk was twisted into canoes and boats; and 

 indeed, it is in a basket of papyrus that Moses is supposed to have 

 been exposed upon the Nile. 



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