COTTON 
15 
USE IN EGYPT AND INTRODUCTION INTO EUROPE BY 
THE MOORS 
As to the culture and use of cotton by the ancient 
Egyptians, there are differences of opinion among 
the doctors ; but the weight of evidence indicates its 
use to a limited extent. 
Into Europe the cotton plant was brought a thou- 
sand years ago, the Moors having introduced its cul- 
ture in Spain "when the caliphate of Cordova was 
at the height of its power and magnificence." But 
the Spanish Christians looked with such disfavor on 
everything having to do with the Moors, or gave 
so little attention to it, that it was long before cot- 
ton found favor in the eyes of the Pope's subjects. 
In the fourteenth century it was at last given a 
chance to rejoice beneath the simny Italian skies, 
and from there its culture spread to France and 
Greece. 
FOUND IN THE NEW WORLD 
In the New World cotton has been grown and 
used from the dateless past — certainly in clothing 
Peruvian mummies which had slept the sleep of 
death for centuries even before Pizarro came to 
disturb the dreams of the Incas; and among the 
treasures which Cortez wrested from the Mexican 
Montezuma and sent to Charles V. were "exquisite 
cotton fabrics dyed in various colors." In the West 
Indies especially cotton has always flourished. 
"In a word," says Mr. R. B. Handy, "everywhere 
between the parallels of 40° north latitude and 40° 
south latitude, with the exception of our 
present American 'Cotton Belt/ cotton, either in 
