( >62 ) 
called by the Greeks P alimpfejl ie , from the rubbing 
out of the Letters upon them. 
The Chart -a Linterf, and Bombycinz , which were 
made of Linnen or Cotton, were of a much later Date j 
and from thefe we learned to make the Paper now in 
Ufe of Linnen Rags, an Invention probably of about 
600 Years Handing. 
Writing was pradtifed upon all thefe Chart a with 
a Reed, and afterwards with a Pen, except upon the 
Pugillares. Thefe Reeds grew upon the Banks of 
the Nile j the Greeks alfo ufed Reeds imported from 
Perjia for the fame Purpofe. Calami argent ei are 
alfo mentioned for Writing. 
Their Letters were formed with Liquors of various 
Colours, but chiefly black, thence called At r amen* 
turn , and in Greek or fu^dnor. It was fome- 
times made of the, Blood of the Cuttle Fi(h, fome* 
times of Soot. Apelles compofed a Black of burnt 
Ivory, which was called Elephant inum. They had 
Ink alfo from India of an approved Compofition, as 
Pliny fays. 
TheTitlesof their Chapters and Sections were wrote 
in Red, or Purple : Hence the Titles of the Roman Laws 
are called Rubric a. Their Purpura was an exceed- 
ing bright Red, or Crimfon, much in Vogue with the 
Byzant /^Writers, and called XjvvaGcl&s, which was a 
Liquor made of the Murex boiled, and its Shell very 
finely powdered ; or as Pliny relates, of the Blood of 
that Filh. Almoft all the ancient Emperors wore this 
Colour, their Names were painted in it upon their Ban- 
ners, and they frequently wrote with it, and wore it. 
This Colour was often the Diftindion of a Roman Ma- 
giftrate. 
