84 
VINE. 
less it may not be wholly uninteresting to trace its 
history, as far as relates to its introduction for the 
purpose of making wine. 
The grape was transmitted from Asia to Europe ; 
and the Phoenicians, who were early navigators, 
especially along the Mediterranean coast, transferred 
it to most of the isles, as well as to the continent. 
It succeeded to admiration in the islands of the Ar- 
chipelago, and was afterwards introduced into Greece 
and Italy. 
Piiny was persuaded, that the libations of milk 
instituted by Romulus, and Numa’s prohibition to 
honour the dead by pouring wine on their tombs, 
made it evident that vines were very scarce in Italy 
at that time, The plant was multiplied in suc- 
ceeding ages : a set of Gauls who had tasted its 
juice, formed a resolution to establish themselves 
in the countries that produced it; and instead of 
employing letters and exhortations to engage other 
Gauls in the intended expedition, they sent quan- 
tities of wine to all the adjacent parts ; upon which 
the inhabitants of several provinces immediately 
quitted the acorns of their forests, and joined the 
main army. The Alps were insufficient to check 
their progress ; and they extended their conquests 
along the two shores of the Po, where they applied 
themselves to the cultivation of the fig, the olive, 
and the grape in particular. Such was the motive 
to their enterprise; and instead of blaming our an- 
cestors for having recourse to arms, in order to se- 
cure the enjoyment of wine, Pliny justifies their 
