Geographical Distribution of the Shell-Purple Industry, 3 



and Pliny, we learn that this famous colouring matter was 

 in great demand among the people of the Mediterranean 

 region. It was this purple dye, in fact, which was largely 

 responsible for giving to the textile fabrics of the 

 Phoenicians their world-wide reputation. 



Both Aristotle and Pliny give the details of the process 

 by which it was procured from the shell-fish. They tell us 

 that the precious liquid was obtained from a transparent 

 branching^ vessel behind the neck of the animal and that 

 at first the material was of the colour and consistency of 

 thick cream. When the shells were small, many of them 

 were bruised together in a mortar ; but when large, the 

 animal was taken out entire, usually by breaking a hole in 

 the side of the shell, and the sac containing the colour- 

 ing matter was taken out, either while the animal was still 

 alive, or as soon as possible after death, as otherwise the 

 quality of the dye was impaired. This was mixed with a 

 quantity of salt, about 20 ozs. to every 100 pounds of juice, 

 to keep it from putrefying. Three days, and no more, were 

 allowed for the steeping process, and the liquid was then 

 set to boil in vessels of tin or lead. The vessel was placed 

 at the end of a long funnel, which communicated with the 

 furnace, and while boiling the liquid was frequently 

 skimmed to remove impurities. The proportions were 

 about 500 pounds of material to every hundred amphorae 

 of water. About the tenth day, as a rule, the whole con- 

 tents of the cauldron were in a liquified condition, and a 

 fleece, freed from all grease, was then plunged in by way 

 of a trial ; but until such time as the colour was found to 

 be satisfactory, the liquid was still kept on the boil. The 

 wool was left to soak for five hours, and then after being 

 carded, was thrown in again, until it had fully imbibed 

 the colour. 2 



2 Pliny, "Nat. Hist.," ix., ch. 62. 



