CHAP. 22.—THE MODE OF MAKING PAPER.
Papyrus grows either in the marshes of Egypt, or in the
sluggish waters of the river Nile, when they have overflowed
and are lying stagnant, in pools that do not exceed a couple of
cubits in depth. The root lies obliquely,[1] and is about the
thickness of one's arm; the section of the stalk is triangular,
and it tapers gracefully upwards towards the extremity,
being not more than ten cubits at most in height. Very much
like a thyrsus[2] in shape, it has a head on the top, which has
no seed[3] in it, and, indeed, is of no use whatever, except as a
flower employed to crown the statues of the gods. The
natives use the roots by way of wood, not only for firing, but
for various other domestic purposes as well. From the papyrus itself they construct boats[4] also, and of the outer coat they
make sails and mats, as well as cloths, besides coverlets and
ropes; they chew it also, both raw and boiled, though they
swallow the juice only.
The papyrus grows in Syria also, on the borders of the same
lake around which grows the sweet-scented calamus;[5] and
King Antiochus used to employ the productions of that country
solely as cordage for naval purposes; for the use of spartum[6]
had not then become commonly known. More recently it has
been understood that a papyrus grows in the river Euphrates,
in the vicinity of Babylon, from which a similar kind of paper
may easily be produced: still, however, up to the present time
the Parthians have preferred to impress[7] their characters upon
cloths
1. Brachiali radicis obliqueæ crassitudine.
2. This was a pole represented as being carried by Bacchus and his Bacchanalian train. It was mostly terminated by the fir cone, that tree being
dedicated to Bacchus, in consequence of the use of its cones and turpentine
in making wine. Sometimes it is surmounted by vine or fig leaves, with
grapes or berries arranged in form of a cone.
3. This is not the fact: it has seed in it, though not very easily percep.
tible. The description here given is otherwise very correct.
4. Among the ancients the term papyrus was used as a general appellation
for all the different plants of the genus Cyperus, which was used for making
mats, boats, baskets, and numerous other articles: but one species only
was employed for making paper, the Cyperus papyrus, or Byblos. Fee
states that the papyrus is no longer to be found in the Delta, where it formerly abounded.
5. See B. xii. c. 48.
6. Sometimes translated hemp. A description will be given of it in B.
xix. c. 7.
7. "Intexere." This would almost appear to mean that they embroidered
or interwove the characters. The Persians still write on a stuff made of
white silk, gummed and duly prepared for the purpose.