SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 157 



was forbidden on pain of death, yet by the liberal 

 promises and persuasions of Justinian, they undertook a 

 new expedition, and at length returned through Bukaria 

 and Persia to Constantinople, in 555, with the eggs of 

 the precious insect concealed in the hollow of their 

 canes or pilgrims' staves, which they had obtained in 

 the far and still more distant country. Until this time 

 the extensive manufactures of the Phoenician cities of 

 Tyre and Berytus had received their supplies of raw 

 silk through Persia from China. Even to the days of 

 Justinian, according to ancient historians, no person at 

 Constantinople knew that silk was the product of an 

 insect. It was generally supposed to be produced from 

 the bark or leaves of trees, or growing like the finest 

 hair from their branches. 



In Greece, the culture and manufacture of silk soon 

 overspread the country. The noblest families aided by 

 their example. The people of Thebes and Athens, from 

 the time of Justinian, cultivated and manufactured silk 

 for four hundred years ; and the Venetians, in the 

 height of their prosperity and commercial glory, carried 

 supplies of silk from Greece to the whole West of Eu- 

 rope. On the downfall of the Roman empire, Arabia 

 became the seat and center of sciences, of arts and 

 civilization. The establishment of the Turkish power 

 in Asia, about the middle of the sixth century, and the 

 subsequent wars, caused great interruption to the cara- 

 van trade between China and Persia; and after the 

 conquest of Mahommed II., the Saracens or Arabians 

 planted the mulberry and encouraged the culture of 



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