25 



cumstance, as he was not rich." He also 

 mentions a table that belonged to Gallus 

 Asinius, \vhich sold for eleven thousand ses- 

 terces, which is about equal to ^70 of our 

 money; and he particularizes a table of 

 citron-wood that came from Ptolemaeus, king 

 of Mauritania, which was made in two demi- 

 rounds, or half circles, joined together so 

 cleverly, that the joints could not be disco- 

 vered : the diameter of it was four feet and 

 a half, and three inches in thickness. It is 

 related that they set great store on woods of 

 curious grains: some there are mentioned 

 with curling veins, which were called tigrin<z 

 (tiger tables) ; others, panthernce (panther) ; 

 and some are described waved like the sea, 

 and spotted like the peacock's tail. But 

 those of the highest value were of the colour 

 of honey-wine, with shining and glittering 

 veins, or lamprey-veined, running across. 



I have ventured to make this digression, 

 having seen within these last few years oak 

 of such various grains, that out of them the 

 whole of the above-mentioned, and many 

 other curious representations, might have 

 been selected. 



The bark of the oak-tree is a most valu- 

 able article for the purpose of tanning ; and 

 it is by the aid of this bark, that our English 



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