FLAX, OR LINE. If)/ 



piece of workmanship had formerly belonged 

 to Amasis, who from a common soldier be- 

 came King of Egypt, about 526 years before 

 the Christian aera. 



The author has now in his possession a 

 piece of linen cloth, which was woven in 

 Egypt as long back as the Trojan war. It 

 will naturally be surmised, that it is a part 

 of the envelope of a mummy. In comparing 

 this cloth to that of our linen of the same 

 fineness, and examining them through a 

 microscope, it is observed, that the warp of 

 the ancient linen is not so close as that of 

 the present make, but that the woof is 

 pressed much closer : it would consequently 

 be more durable, wear softer, and be less 

 susceptible of soil, than modern linen 

 cloth. 



The Athenians, who were an Egyptian 

 colony from Sais, followed the custom of 

 their ancestors, by applying themselves to 

 raising flax for linen cloth : they therefore 

 worshiped Minerva, who was also styled 

 Ergatis, or the workwoman, for her excel- 

 lency in spinning and weaving ; and who 

 is supposed to be no other than the Egyp- 

 tian Isis ; for the Egyptians, to remind the 

 people of the importance of their linen 



