Chap. 23.] 
THE DIJETEKENT KINDS OE PAPER. 
187 
thickness of one's arm ; the section of the stalk is triangular, 
and it tapers gracefully upwards towards the extremity, 
being not more than ten cubits at most in height. Very much 
like a thyrsus ^ in shape, it has a head on the top, which has 
no seed^* in it, and, indeed, is of no use whatever, except as a 
flower employed to crown the statues of the gods. The 
natives use the roots by way of wood, not only for firing, but 
for various other domestic purposes as well. Erom the papy- 
rus itself they construct boats^ also, and of the outer coat they 
make sails and mats, as well as cloths, besides coverlets and 
ropes ; they chew it also, both raw and boiled, though they 
swallow the juice only. 
The papyrus grows in Syria also, on the borders of the same 
lake aroun.d which grows the sweet-scented calamus;'^ and 
King Antiochus used to employ the productions of that country 
solely as cordage for naval purposes; for the use of spartum^^ 
had not then become commonly known. More recently it has 
been understood that a papyrus grows in the river Euphrates, 
in the vicinity of Babylon, from which a similar kind of paper 
may easily be produced : still, however, up to the present time 
the Parthians have preferred to impress^ their characters upon 
cloths 
CHAP. 23. (12) THE NINE DIEFEEENT XINDS OE PAPER. 
Paper is made from the papyrus, by splitting it with 
^ This was a pole represented as being carried by Bacchus and his Bac- 
chanalian train. It was mostly terminated by the fir cone, that tree being 
dedicated to Bacchus, in consequence of the use of its cones and turpentine 
in making wine. Sometimes it is surmounted by vine or fig leaves, with 
grapes or berries arranged in form of a cone. 
^ ^* This is not the fact : it has seed in it, though not very easily percep- 
tible. The description here given is otherwise very correct. *' 
^ Among the ancients the term papyrus was used as a general appellation 
for all the different plants of the genus Cyperus, which was used for making 
mats, boats, baskets, and numerous other articles : but one species only 
was employed for making paper, the Cyperus papyrus, or Byblos, Fee 
states that the papyrus is no longer to be found in the Delta, where it for- 
merly abounded. See B. xii. c. 48. 
^ ^ Sometimes translated heinp. A description will be given of it in B. 
xix. c. 7. 
^ " Intexere.'* This would almost appear to mean that they embroidered 
or interwove the characters. The Persians still write on a 'stuff made of 
white silk, gummed and duly prepared for the purpose. 
