Also the Periplus of the Erythrean Sea states, that the region about the Gulf of Barygaza in India was productive "of Carpasus and of the fine Indian cloths made of it[1]." These were what we now call India muslins. These muslins we are informed by Dr. Vincent, were imported into Egypt, and accordingly Pacatus[2] represents Antony's army as wearing cotton in that country.
The term Carbasus, is evidently used by the five last-cited authors to signify cotton; for they employ it in describing the common dress of the Indians. As the Greeks and Romans became acquainted with cotton much earlier than with silk, we find that Carpas, the proper Oriental name for cotton, was also in use among them at a comparatively early period; and we shall now endeavor to trace the progress of this term from India, Westward. With little variation it is found in the same sense in the Sanscrit, Arabic, and Persic languages[3].
This word occurs once in the Hebrew Scriptures, viz. Esther, i. 6., and there evidently as a foreign term. The hangings, used to decorate the court of the royal palace at Susa on occasion of the great feast given by Ahasuerus, are thus described in the common version of the Scriptures:—
"Where were white, green, and blue hangings, fastened with cords of fine
linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and
silver upon a pavement of red and blue and white and black marble."
The word, corresponding to "green" in the original is Carpas
((
Hebrew characters)(Transliteration from Hebrew: KRPS)). It has been translated "green" by the authors of
the common version on the authority of the Chaldee Paraphrase.
The earliest instance of the use of the oriental name in any classical author is the line from Statius Cæcilius, who died 169 B. C. as quoted by Nonius Marcellus (l. xvi.) from the Pausimachus of Statius:
