Chapter I: Sheep’s Wool

SHEEP-BREEDING AND PASTORAL LIFE OF THE ANCIENTS--ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE SCRIPTURES, ETC.

The Shepherd Boy--Sheep-breeding in Scythia and Persia--Mesopotamia and Syria--In Idumæa and Northern Arabia--In Palestine and Egypt--In Ethiopia and Libya--In Caucasus and Coraxi--The Coraxi identified with the modern Caratshai--In Asia Minor, Pisidia, Pamphylia, Samos, &c.--In Caria and Ionia--Milesian wool--Sheep-breeding in Thrace, Magnesia, Thessaly, Eubœa, and Bœotia--In Phocis, Attica, and Megaris--In Arcadia--Worship of Pan--Pan the god of the Arcadian Shepherds--Introduction of his worship into Attica--Extension of the worship of Pan--His dances with the nymphs--Pan not the Egyptian Mendes, but identical with Faunus--The philosophical explanation of Pan rejected--Moral, social, and political state of the Arcadians--Polybius on the cultivation of music by the Arcadians--Worship of Mercury in connection with sheep-breeding and the wool trade--Present state of Arcadia--Sheep-breeding in Macedonia and Epirus--Shepherds’ dogs--Annual migration of Albanian shepherds 217

CHAPTER II.

SHEEP-BREEDING AND PASTORAL LIFE OF THE ANCIENTS--ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE SCRIPTURES, ETC.

Sheep-breeding in Sicily--Bucolic poetry--Sheep-breeding in South Italy--Annual migration of the flocks--The ram employed to aid the shepherd in conducting his flock--The ram an emblem of authority--Bells--Ancient inscription at Sepino--Use of music by ancient shepherds--Superior quality of Tarentine sheep--Testimony of Columella--Distinction of the coarse and soft kinds--Names given to sheep--Supposed effect of the water of rivers on wool--Sheep-breeding in South Italy, Tarentum, and Apulia--Brown and red wool--Sheep-breeding in North Italy--Wool of Parma, Modena, Mantua, and Padua--Origin of sheep-breeding in Italy--Faunus the same with Pan--Ancient sculptures exhibiting Faunus--Bales of wool and the shepherd’s dress--Costume, appearance, and manner of life of the ancient Italian shepherds 256

CHAPTER III.

SHEEP-BREEDING AND PASTORAL LIFE OF THE ANCIENTS--ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE SCRIPTURES, ETC.

Sheep-breeding in Germany and Gaul--In Britain--Improved by the Belgians and Saxons--Sheep-breeding in Spain--Natural dyes of Spanish wool--Golden hue and other natural dyes of the wool of Bætica--Native colors of Bætic wool--Saga and chequered plaids--Sheep always bred principally for the weaver, not for the butcher--Sheep supplied milk for food, wool for clothing--The moth 282

CHAPTER IV.

GOATS-HAIR.

ANCIENT HISTORY OF THE GOAT--ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE SCRIPTURES, ETC.

Sheep-breeding and goats in China--Probable origin of sheep and goats--Sheep and goats coeval with man, and always propagated together--Habits of Grecian goat-herds--He-goat employed to lead the flock--Cameo representing a goat-herd--Goats chiefly valued for their milk--Use of goats’-hair for coarse clothing--Shearing of goats in Phrygia, Cilicia, &c.--Vestes caprina, cloth of goats’-hair--Use of goats’-hair for military and naval purposes--Curtains to cover tents--Etymology of Sack and Shag--Symbolical uses of sack-cloth--The Arabs weave goats’-hair--Modern uses of goats’-hair and goats’-wool--Introduction of the Angora or Cashmere goat into France--Success of the Project 293

CHAPTER V.

BEAVERS-WOOL.

Isidorus Hispalensis--Claudian--Beckmann--Beavers’-wool--Dispersion of Beavers through Europe--Fossil bones of Beavers 309

CHAPTER VI.

CAMELS-WOOL AND CAMELS-HAIR.

Camels’-wool and Camels’-hair--Ctesias’s account--Testimony of modern travellers--Arab tent of Camels’-hair--Fine cloths still made of Camels’-wool--The use of hair of various animals in the manufacture of beautiful stuffs by the ancient Mexicans--Hair used by the Candian women in the manufacture of broidered stuffs--Broidered stuffs of the negresses of Senegal--Their great beauty 312

PART THIRD.

ANCIENT HISTORY OF THE COTTON MANUFACTURE.