HEMP. 65 



though not so fine as that made from flax, is manu- 

 factured from hemp; it is considered very much 

 stronger than linen, and its colour, though not so 

 good when new, improves through continued expo- 

 sure to the light in wearing. The strength and 

 greater durability of the Russia hempen sheeting 

 causes it, though much coarser, to be often preferred 

 to Irish linen. In Suffolk, where hemp is much 

 grown, cloth manufactured from it is generally worn 

 by the peasantry and the small farmers. 



There is little doubt that hemp was indigenous 

 in Europe. We have records of its growth here for 

 nearly two thousand five hundred years. Plerodotus 

 (book iv. 74) says, " Hemp grows in the country of 

 the Scythians, which, except in the thickness and 

 height of the stalk, very much resembles flax ; in the 

 qualities mentioned, however, the hemp is much 

 superior. It grows in a natural state, and is also 

 cultivated. The Thraeians make clothing of it very 

 like linen cloth ; nor could any person, without 

 being very well acquainted with the substance, say 

 whether this clothing is made of hemp or flax. A 

 person who has never seen hempen cloth, would 

 certainly suppose that this, of which I am speaking, 

 is made of flax." The Scythians of Herodotus lived 

 in Europe, north of the Danube, and bordering on 

 the Black Sea. 



The shirts worn by the peasants (when they have 

 any such covering), in the greatest part of Russia, 

 are made of hempen cloth. The rest of their simple 

 costume is soon described. They wear very large full 

 breeches of the same coarse material, a large pair of 

 boots, or very thick stockings, with shoes made of 

 the bark of the linden, or lime-tree, (another useful 

 vegetable substance) ; their coat is a sheep-skin, 

 with the wool inside, and over this, when the weather 

 is very cold, they throw another coat, made of ex- 



