334 
plint's natueal histoet. 
[Book VIII. 
native, are found in Spain ; PoUentia, in the vicinity of the 
AIps,'"^* produces black fleeces of the best quality ; Asia, as well 
as Baetica,^^ the red fleeces, which are called Erythraean ; those 
of Canusium are of a tawny colour ; and those of Tarentum 
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 Piscense,^^ in the province of !N'arbonensis, as also 
in 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. 
2^ Martial, B. xiv. Ep. 157, calls the fleeces of Pollentia " liigentes," 
mournful," from their black colour; they are also mentioned by Colu- 
mella, ubi supra^ and by Silius Italicus, B. viii. 1. 599. — B. 
Martial, B. v. c. 37, describing the charms of a lady, says, sur- 
passing with her locks the fleece of the Beetle sheep," no doubt referring 
to the colour. In another Epigram, B. xii, E. 200, he speaks of the 
" aurea vellera," the " golden fleece" of Bsetis. — B. 
26 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. ^7 " Suse pulliginis." — B. 
28 The term here used, " succidus," is explained by Varro, B. ii. c. 11 : 
" While 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 yestis," 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. 524. — B. 
30 See B. iv. c. 35. g^e B. iii. c. 5. Now Pezenas. 
•^2 Kat pY]yia koKcl 
nojO0i»p' EixpaXseiv, aropkaai kcpvirepQe Td7rr}Tag. 
Od. B. iv. 1. 427. " And to throw on fair coverlets of purple, and to lay 
carpets upon them." 
33 These were probably much like what we call " Turkey" carpets. 
