On the Fur Trade, and Fur-hearing Animah. 313 



crossed the sea and river which are frozen in winter to a considera- 

 ble extent ; set fire to the houses, drove off the cattle, and either mas- 

 sacred or made captives of the inhabitants. To the Romans enjoy- 

 ing the security and luxuries of the metropolis, a hairy cloak might 

 well be associated with ideas of disgust and dread, from the accounts 

 given by the terrified poet, of those fur clad marauders.* Tacitus, iii 

 describing the most barbarous of the German tribes, says, " the Fenni 

 are like wild beasts, without arms, horses, or homes ; their food is the 

 wild herb, their clothing skins, their resting place the ground." The 

 poet Claudian too, relating a victory won over the Getae who had pen- 

 etrated Greece, says, " the furred youth are mown down, their wag- 

 gons swim in gore :" and in another poem he satirizes the minister 

 Rufinus, for appearing on the seat of justice wrapped in fur ; in imi- 

 tation of, or in compliment to, his body guard of Scythians. The 

 whole northern and eastern frontier of the Roman Empire wag oc- 

 cupied by warlike and savage tribes, whose ordinary covering was 

 of furs, except near some of the garrisons, where they had been 

 taught the use of cloth, by long intercourse with the Romans.f 



When these barbarians had established themselves in Italy, they 

 laid aside the coarser skins which had been essential to protect them 

 from the cold of Sarmatia and more northern climates, and adopt- 

 ed the light and beautiful fabrics " of Gallic and ItaUan looms ;" 

 but they still retained their taste for the fine and more costly furs, 

 which they employed for ostentatious luxury rather than convenience 

 or warmth. 



The choice and precious furs had been held in high esteem among 

 the nobles of Persia, many of whom were of Scythian origin, al- 

 though the climate did not render them essential, as in Scandinavia 

 and Sarmatia. The rich and rare furs were obtained through the 

 medium of commerce, to minister to their love of display and per- 

 sonal distinction. 



In the 6th century furs became an article of commerce in de- 

 mand at Rome, where they had so lately been held in abhorrence. 

 The dreaded barbarians who had taken possession of the imperial 

 territory, transplanted their own usages and tastes upon the enerva- 

 ted metropolis. 



Sables were brought to Rome from the countries on the Baltic, 

 and from the mountainous regions near the head waters of the Eu- 



* Aikin. f Idem, 



Voh. XXV.— No. 2. 40 



