Page:The history of silk, cotton, linen, wool, and other fibrous substances 2.djvu/27

PART THIRD.

ANCIENT HISTORY OF THE COTTON MANUFACTURE.

CHAPTER I.

GREAT ANTIQUITY OF THE COTTON MANUFACTURE IN INDIA—UNRIVALLED
SKILL OF THE INDIAN WEAVER.

Superiority of Cotton for clothing, compared with linen, both in hot and cold climates—Cotton
characteristic of India—Account of Cotton by Herodotus,
Ctesias, Theophrastus, Aristobulus, Nearchus, Pomponius Mela—Use of Cotton
in India—Cotton known before silk and called Carpasus, Carpasum, Carbasum,
&c.—Cotton awnings used by the Romans—Carbasus applied to linen—Last
request of Tibullus—Muslin fillet of the vestal virgin—Linen sails, &c.,
called Carbasa—Valerius Flaccus introduces muslin among the elegancies in
the dress of a Phrygian from the river Rhyndacus—Prudentius's satire on pride—Apuleius's
testimony—Testimony of Sidonius Apollinaris, and Avienus—Pliny
and Julius Pollux—Their testimony considered—Testimony of Tertullian
and Philostratus—Of Martianus Capella—Cotton paper mentioned by Theophylus
Presbyter—Use of Cotton by the Arabians—Cotton not common anciently
in Europe—Marco Polo and Sir John Mandeville's testimony of the
Cotton of India—Forbes's description of the herbaceous Cotton of Guzerat—Testimony
of Malte Brun—Beautiful Cotton textures of the ancient Mexicans—Testimony
of the Abbe Clavigero—Fishing nets made from Cotton by the
inhabitants of the West India Islands, and on the Continent of South America—Columbus's
testimony—Cotton used for bedding by the Brazilians 315

CHAPTER II.

SPINNING AND WEAVING—MARVELLOUS SKILL DISPLAYED IN THESE
ARTS.

Unrivalled excellence of India muslins—Testimony of the two Arabian travellers—Marco
Polo, and Odoardo Barbosa's accounts of the beautiful Cotton textures
of Bengal—Cæsar Frederick, Tavernier, and Forbes's testimony—Extraordinary
fineness and transparency of Decca muslins—Specimen brought by Sir
Charles Wilkins; compared with English muslins—Sir Joseph Banks's experiments—Extraordinary
fineness of Cotton yarn spun by machinery in England—Fineness
of India Cotton yarn—Cotton textures of Soonergong—Testimony of
R. Fitch—Hamilton's account—Decline of the manufactures of Dacca accounted
for—Orme's testimony of the universal diffusion of the Cotton manufacture
in India—Processes of the manufacture—Rude implements—Roller gin—Bowing.
(Eli Whitney inventor of the cotton gin—Tribute of respect paid
to his memory—Immense value of Mr. Whitney's invention to growers and manufacturers
of Cotton throughout the world.) Spinning wheel—Spinning without