EMPLOYMENT OF SEWING-NEEDLES. 129 



of other metals besides iron. Acus sarcinatrix was a bronze needle used by 

 tailors in making clothes. The needles of Cyprus were most sought after. 



I have been unable to observe any thing of the needles of historic Gaul witli 

 well-determined dates. Those of bone or of bronze that have been found at 

 Alise, at Corent, or at Gergovia in Auvergne, date (according to the learned 

 antiquary of Clermont, M. Matthieu) from an epoch anterior to the Roman 

 Invasion. Those made of bone are of less perfect Avorkmanship than our 

 prehistoric specimens of needles made of Reindeer antler. Most of the Gaulish 

 needles have the eye terminal, and round or oblong ; but some have the hole for 

 the thread pierced in a widened part in the upper third of the stem thus resem- 

 bling those in bronze, of which we here giye a figure (fig. 49) 

 supplied by M. Matthieu, and remarkable for the thinness of 

 the shaft. 



o 



Among the American nations Avho were civilized previously to Jj 



their connexion with European nations, AVC may refer to the 

 Mexicans, who, Avith considerably advanced notions of some arts, 

 had not however any knowledge of the use of iron. We knoAv 3 is 



that, when the Spaniards invaded Mexico, the barbers in the city ^ 4 a 

 had still to make use of thin-edged flakes of obsidian as razors, .> 

 in shaving their customers &c. The art of sewing, however, Avas | ^ 



not unknown among the ancient Mexicans ; and they had needles J 



of bronze, according to Mr. E. B. Tylor*. The late Mr. Henry $ -S 



Christy's Collection contains some of these bronze specimens, 

 which somewhat resemble in form and size our packing-needles. -g 



"Among the ancient inhabitants of Peru," says Goguetf, 

 " Avhom we must regard at all events as a highly enlightened 

 and polished nation, neither needles nor pins were known ; but long thorns Avere 

 used in sewing and in fastening garments " % ; but this assertion of Goguet's is 

 contradicted by an observation, lately made before the Anthropological Society of 

 Paris, on an ancient Peruvian mummy having a copper needle still inserted in 

 the linen of the envelope, and accompanied with a ball of thread . Eor a know- 



* Anahuac ; or Mexico and the Mexicans, Ancient and Modern, p. 235, 8vo, London, 1861. 



f De 1'origine des lois, &c. Nouvelle edition, 3 vols. 8vo, Paris, 1809, vol. i. p. 136 ; and 6th edit., 8vo, 

 1820, vol. i. p. 142. 



J "Hist, des Incas [de Garcilasso de la Vega; Traduite ifec., 1715 and 1744], vol. ii. pp. 63, 77." 



[Mr. David Forbes, F.E.S., has informed us that needles made of large strong Cactus spines are 

 frequently found with the female mummies of Peru. Similar needles, in the Christy Collection, are nearly 

 as strong as bone, and retain some of the sewing thread of hair (?). And a large bronze needle, retaining 



