268 SYLVA FLORIFERA. 



diviners, who made their conjurations and 

 divinations with wands of willow. We have 

 already so frequently noticed the religious 

 cheats and the abominable rites of the Pagan 

 priests, that we have nothing left but to ex- 

 press our gratitude that we are permitted to 

 live in the blessed days of Christianity. 



46 Willows in twigs are fruitful." Virgil. 



" On willow twigs employ thy weaving care." lb. 



The pliant twigs of these trees appear to 

 have been employed for domestic purposes 

 from the earliest ages. The shields of the 

 ancients were woven with wicker-work, and 

 covered with the hides of oxen. 



" And bending osiers into baskets weaved." Virgil. 



The ancient Britons served up their meats 

 in osier baskets and dishes ; and so expert 

 were they in this kind of wicker-work, that 

 their baskets were objects of great admiration 

 to the Romans, which we learn from the fol- 

 lowing epigram of Martial : 



Barbara depictis vent bascauda Britannis, 

 Scd me jam mavult dicer e lloma snam. 



Lib. xiv. Ep. 99. 

 " A basket I, by painted Britons wrought, 

 And now to Rome's imperial city brought." 



Osier baskets were the first manufactured 

 articles that were exported from these king- 



