334 plint's natfeax histoet. [Book VIII. 



native,'' are found in Spain ; Pollentia, in the \dcinity of the 

 Alps,'" produces black fleeces of the best quality ; Asia, as well 

 as Bsetica,^* the red fleeces, which are called Erythraean ; those 

 of Canusium are of a tawny colour;"* and those of Tarentnm 

 have their peculiar dark tint." All kinds of wool, when not 

 freed from the grease,^ possess certain medicinal properties. 

 The wool of Istria is much more like hair than wool, and is 

 not suitable for the fabrication of stuffs that have a long nap ;^' 

 so too is that which Salacia,'" in Lusitania, finds the most useful 

 for making its chequered cloths. There is a similar wool, too, 

 found about Piscenee,'' in the province of l^arbonensis, as also 

 iu Egypt ; a garment^ when it has been worn for some time, 

 is often embroidered with this wool, and will last for a con- 

 siderable time. 



The thick, flocky wool has been esteemed for the manu- 

 facture of carpets from the very earliest times; it is quite 

 clear, from what we read in Homer, that they were in use in 

 his time.'" The Gauls embroider them in a different manner 

 from that which is practised by the Parthians.'' "Wool is 



2' " Quas nativas appellant." The term " nativa," as applied to the 

 wool, has been supposed to refer to those fleeces that possess a natural 

 colour, and do not require to be dyed. — B. 



24 Martial, B. xiv. Ep. 157, calls the fleeces of Pollentia " higentes,'' 

 " mournful," from their black colour; they are also mentioned by Colu- 

 mella, ubi supra, and by Silius Italicus, B. viii. 1. 699. — B. 



'* Martial, B. t. c. 37, describing the charms of a lady, says, " sur- 

 passing with her locks the fleece of the Baetic sheep," no doubt referring 

 to the colour. In another Epigram, B. xii. E. 200, he speaks of the 

 " aurea Tellera," the " golden fleece" of Bsetis. — B. 



2' Martial has two Epigrams on the wool of Canusium, B. xiv. E. 127, 

 and E. 129. In the former it is designated as " fusca," tawny ; in the 

 latter, "rufa," red.— B. w " Suse pulliginis."— B. 



28 The term here used, " succidus," is explained by Varro, B. ii. c. 11 : 

 " "Wiile the newly-clipped wool has the sweat in it, it is called ' succida." " 

 See B. xxix. c. 9. 



29 " Pexis vestibus." According to Hardouin, the "pexa Testis," was 

 worn by the rich, and had a long and prominent nap, in contradistinction 

 to the smooth or worn cloths. He refers to a passage in Horace, B. i. Ep. i. 

 1. 95, and to one in Martial, B. ii. E. 58, which appear to sanction this 

 explanation. See Lem. vol. iii. p. 624. — B. 



so See B. iv. c. 36. _ 3i See B. iii. c. 5. Now Pezenas. 



■^2 Kat pr^yta KaXa 



Tlopipvp' l/ifiaXifiv, (TTOpeaai S' k^vinpBi TairrtraQ. 

 Od. B. iv. 1. 427. " And to 'throw on fair coverlets of purple, and to lay 

 cai'pets upon them." 



'^ These were probably much like what we caU " Turkey" carpets. 



