The history of silk, cotton, linen, wool, and other fibrous ... - Cd3wd.com

THE COTTON MANUFACTURE. 319
rather the two later authors who quote him, viz. Arrian and
Straboj use the terms for hnen in a general sense, as including
all fine Ught cloths made of vegetable substances*.
We read in the account of India by Pomponius Mela (L. iii.
c. 7.), that the woods produced wool, used by the natives for
clothing. He distinctly mentions the use of flax likewise. It
has been conjectured, that he may have taken his account from
Nearchus, or some other Greek writer, and that he may have
intended to speak only of the use of cotton. But in reply to
this it is to be observed, that Pomponius Mela here mentions
flax in opposition to cotton, and that his assertion, so understood,
was probably true, since we have other evidence to show that
flax grows in India as well as cotton. (See Part IV.) Never-
theless it seems necessary to understand other authors of the
same period as meaning cotton by the term rivov, or limim.
Thus Dyonisius Periegetes {L 1116), speaking of the employments
of the Indians, says, 0\ Se Iotovs vip6o>ai T^mpycas, which prol>
ably meant " some weave muslins." In the same manner we
must interpret the assertion of Q,uintus Curtius, " Terra lini
ferax, unde plerisque sunt vestes ;" i. e.. The land produces
flax, from which the greater part obtain garments. Soon after
this Curtius says in terms more strictly proper.
Corpora usque pedes carhaso velant, soleis pedes, capita linteis vinciunt.
They cover their bodies from head to foot with carhasits ; they bind shoes about
their feet, linen cloths about theu- heads.
Again, speaking of the dress of the King, he says,
Distincta sunt auro et purpura, carhasa, quoB indutus est. L. viii. 9.
The carhasa which he wore, were spotted with purple and gold.
In like manner, Lucan, describing the Indian nations, says.
Who drink sweet juices from the tender cane.
With dyes of crocus stain their hair, and fix
With color'd gems the flowing carbasus.
L. iii. V. 239.
Strabo says, (L. xv. c. 1. vol. vi. j). 153. ed. Sieb.)
That the Indians use white raiment, and fine white cloths and carpasa.
* Arriani Rer. Indie, p. 522. 539. ed. Blancardi. Strabo, L. xv. c. 1. vol. vi.
p. 40. ed. Sieb.