indigo. 277 



This love of distinction and ornament 

 seems inherent in our nature, since we find 

 that barbarians who had neither learnt to cul- 

 tivate the fruits of the earth, nor to raise 

 themselves a shelter from the weather, would 

 adorn their naked bodies by staining them of 

 various colours, and often render themselves 

 conspicuous by painful operations. 



Pliny says, the women of Britain, both 

 wives and virgins, went without clothing to 

 the feasts and sacrifices, except that they 

 coloured their bodies with an herb which 

 they got from Gaul. This ancient custom 

 had nearly been revived in the present cen- 

 tury ; but the modesty and good taste of the 

 British fair soon discarded a fashion so re- 

 pugnant to the character of the English 

 nation. 



The eastern part of the world, where man 

 was first created, gave birth also to the arts. 

 The Scriptures as well as the writings of the 

 Heathens, inform us, that the art of dyeing 

 was invented on the coast of Syria. 



The city of Sidon is supposed to have been 

 so called after the eldest son of Canaan. 

 The patriarch Jacob mentions this city as 

 being on the coast ; " Zebulun shall dwell 

 at the haven of the sea ; and he shall be for 



