PartIII。
Ineednotexplainthatsilk^61isoriginallyspunfromthebowelsofacaterpillar，andthatitcomposesthegoldentomb，fromwhenceawormemergesintheformofabutterfly。TillthereignofJustinian，thesilk—wormwhofeedontheleavesofthewhitemulberry—treewereconfinedtoChina；thoseofthepine，theoak，andtheash，werecommonintheforestsbothofAsiaandEurope；butastheireducationismoredifficult，andtheirproducemoreuncertain，theyweregenerallyneglected，exceptinthelittleislandofCeos，nearthecoastofAttica。Athingauzewasprocuredfromtheirwebs，andthisCeanmanufacture，theinventionofawoman，forfemaleuse，waslongadmiredbothintheEastandatRome。WhateversuspicionsmayberaisedbythegarmentsoftheMedesandAssyrians，Virgilisthemostancientwriter，whoexpresslymentionsthesoftwoolwhichwascombedfromthetreesoftheSeresorChinese；^62andthisnaturalerror，lessmarvellousthanthetruth，wasslowlycorrectedbytheknowledgeofavaluableinsect，thefirstartificeroftheluxuryofnations。Thatrareandelegantluxurywascensured，inthereignofTiberius，bythegravestoftheRomans；andPliny，inaffectedthoughforciblelanguage，hascondemnedthethirstofgain，whichexploresthelastconfinesoftheearth，fortheperniciouspurposeofexposingtothepubliceyenakeddraperiesandtransparentmatrons。^63Adresswhichshowedtheturnofthelimbs，andcoloroftheskin，mightgratifyvanity，orprovokedesire；thesilkswhichhadbeencloselywoveninChinaweresometimesunravelledbythePhoenicianwomen，andthepreciousmaterialsweremultipliedbyaloosertexture，andtheintermixtureoflinenthreads。^64TwohundredyearsaftertheageofPliny，theuseofpure，orevenofmixedsilks，wasconfinedtothefemalesex，tilltheopulentcitizensofRomeandtheprovinceswereinsensiblyfamiliarizedwiththeexampleofElagabalus，thefirstwho，bythiseffeminatehabit，hadsulliedthedignityofanemperorandaman。Aureliancomplained，thatapoundofsilkwassoldatRomefortwelveouncesofgold；butthesupplyincreasedwiththedemand，andthepricediminishedwiththesupply。IfaccidentormonopolysometimesraisedthevalueevenabovethestandardofAurelian，themanufacturersofTyreandBerytusweresometimescompelled，bytheoperationofthesamecauses，tocontentthemselveswithaninthpartofthatextravagantrate。^65Alawwasthoughtnecessarytodiscriminatethedressofcomediansfromthatofsenators；andofthesilkexportedfromitsnativecountrythefargreaterpartwasconsumedbythesubjectsofJustinian。Theywerestillmoreintimatelyacquaintedwithashell—fishoftheMediterranean，surnamedthesilk—wormofthesea:thefinewoolorhairbywhichthemother—of—pearlaffixesitselftotherockisnowmanufacturedforcuriosityratherthanuse；andarobeobtainedfromthesamesingularmaterialswasthegiftoftheRomanemperortothesatrapsofArmenia。^66
[Footnote61:InthehistoryofinsectsfarmorewonderfulthanOvid\'sMetamorphosesthesilk—wormholdsaconspicuousplace。
ThebombyxoftheIsleofCeos，asdescribedbyPliny，Hist。
Natur。xi。26，27，withthenotesofthetwolearnedJesuits，HardouinandBrotier，maybeillustratedbyasimilarspeciesinChina，MemoiressurlesChinois，tom。ii。p。575—598；butoursilk—worm，aswellasthewhitemulberry—tree，wereunknowntoTheophrastusandPliny。]
[Footnote62:Georgic。ii。121。Sericaquandovenerintinusumplanissimenonacio:suspicortameninJuliiCaesarisaevo，namantenoninvenio，saysJustusLipsius，Excursusi。adTacit。
Annal。ii。32。SeeDionCassius，l。xliii。p。358，edit。
Reimar，andPausanius，l。vi。p。519，thefirstwhodescribes，howeverstrangely，theSericinsect。]
[Footnote63:Tamlonginquoorbepetitur，utinpublicomatronatransluceat……utdenudetfoeminasvestis，Plin。vi。20，xi。
21。VarroandPubliusSyrushadalreadyplayedontheTogavitrea，ventustexilis，andnebulalinen，Horat。Sermon。i。2，101，withthenotesofTorrentiusandDacier。]
[Footnote*:Gibbonmusthavewrittentransparentdraperiesandnakedmatrons。Throughsometimesaffected，heisneverinaccurate。—M。]
[Footnote64:Onthetexture，colors，names，anduseofthesilk，halfsilk，andliuengarmentsofantiquity，seetheprofound，diffuse，andobscureresearchesofthegreatSalmasius，inHist。
August。p。127，309，310，339，341，342，344，388—391，395，513，whowasignorantofthemostcommontradesofDijonorLeyden。]
[Footnote65:FlaviusVopiscusinAurelian。c。45，inHist。
August。p。224。SeeSalmasiusadHist。Aug。p。392，andPlinian。
Exercitat。inSolinum，p。694，695。TheAnecdotesofProcopiusc。25stateapartialandimperfectrateofthepriceofsilkinthetimeofJustinian。]
[Footnote66:ProcopiusdeEdit。l。iii。c。1。ThesepinnesdemerarefoundnearSmyrna，Sicily，Corsica，andMinorca；andapairofglovesoftheirsilkwaspresentedtoPopeBenedictXIV。]
Avaluablemerchandiseofsmallbulkiscapableofdefrayingtheexpenseofland—carriage；andthecaravanstraversedthewholelatitudeofAsiaintwohundredandforty—threedaysfromtheChineseOceantothesea—coastofSyria。SilkwasimmediatelydeliveredtotheRomansbythePersianmerchants，^67whofrequentedthefairsofArmeniaandNisibis；butthistrade，whichintheintervalsoftrucewasoppressedbyavariceandjealousy，wastotallyinterruptedbythelongwarsoftherivalmonarchies。ThegreatkingmightproudlynumberSogdiana，andevenSerica，amongtheprovincesofhisempire；buthisrealdominionwasboundedbytheOxusandhisusefulintercoursewiththeSogdoites，beyondtheriver，dependedonthepleasureoftheirconquerors，thewhiteHuns，andtheTurks，whosuccessivelyreignedoverthatindustriouspeople。Yetthemostsavagedominionhasnotextirpatedtheseedsofagricultureandcommerce，inaregionwhichiscelebratedasoneofthefourgardensofAsia；thecitiesofSamarcandandBocharaareadvantageouslyseatedfortheexchangeofitsvariousproductions；andtheirmerchantspurchasedfromtheChinese，^68
therawormanufacturedsilkwhichtheytransportedintoPersiafortheuseoftheRomanempire。InthevaincapitalofChina，theSogdiancaravanswereentertainedasthesuppliantembassiesoftributarykingdoms，andiftheyreturnedinsafety，theboldadventurewasrewardedwithexorbitantgain。ButthedifficultandperilousmarchfromSamarcandtothefirsttownofShensi，couldnotbeperformedinlessthansixty，eighty，oronehundreddays:assoonastheyhadpassedtheJaxartestheyenteredthedesert；andthewanderinghordes，unlesstheyarerestrainedbyarmiesandgarrisons，havealwaysconsideredthecitizenandthetravellerastheobjectsoflawfulrapine。ToescapetheTartarrobbers，andthetyrantsofPersia，thesilkcaravansexploredamoresouthernroad；theytraversedthemountainsofThibet，descendedthestreamsoftheGangesortheIndus，andpatientlyexpected，intheportsofGuzeratandMalabar，theannualfleetsoftheWest。^69Butthedangersofthedesertwerefoundlessintolerablethantoil，hunger，andthelossoftime；theattemptwasseldomrenewed，andtheonlyEuropeanwhohaspassedthatunfrequentedway，applaudshisowndiligence，that，inninemonthsafterhisdeparturefromPekin，hereachedthemouthoftheIndus。Theocean，however，wasopentothefreecommunicationofmankind。FromthegreatrivertothetropicofCancer，theprovincesofChinaweresubduedandcivilizedbytheemperorsoftheNorth；theywerefilledaboutthetimeoftheChristianaerawithcitiesandmen，mulberry—treesandtheirpreciousinhabitants；andiftheChinese，withtheknowledgeofthecompass，hadpossessedthegeniusoftheGreeksorPhoenicians，theymighthavespreadtheirdiscoveriesoverthesouthernhemisphere。Iamnotqualifiedtoexamine，andIamnotdisposedtobelieve，theirdistantvoyagestothePersianGulf，ortheCapeofGoodHope；buttheirancestorsmightequalthelaborsandsuccessofthepresentrace，andthesphereoftheirnavigationmightextendfromtheIslesofJapantotheStraitsofMalacca，thepillars，ifwemayapplythatname，ofanOrientalHercules。^70Withoutlosingsightofland，theymightsailalongthecoasttotheextremepromontoryofAchin，whichisannuallyvisitedbytenortwelveshipsladenwiththeproductions，themanufactures，andeventheartificersofChina；theIslandofSumatraandtheoppositepeninsulaarefaintlydelineated^71astheregionsofgoldandsilver；andthetradingcitiesnamedinthegeographyofPtolemymayindicate，thatthiswealthwasnotsolelyderivedfromthemines。ThedirectintervalbetweenSumatraandCeylonisaboutthreehundredleagues:theChineseandIndiannavigatorswereconductedbytheflightofbirdsandperiodicalwinds；andtheoceanmightbesecurelytraversedinsquare—builtships，which，insteadofiron，weresewedtogetherwiththestrongthreadofthecocoanut。Ceylon，Serendib，orTaprobana，wasdividedbetweentwohostileprinces；oneofwhompossessedthemountains，theelephants，andtheluminouscarbuncle，andtheotherenjoyedthemoresolidrichesofdomesticindustry，foreigntrade，andthecapaciousharborofTrinquemale，whichreceivedanddismissedthefleetsoftheEastandWest。Inthishospitableisle，atanequaldistanceasitwascomputedfromtheirrespectivecountries，thesilkmerchantsofChina，whohadcollectedintheirvoyagesaloes，cloves，nutmeg，andsandalwood，maintainedafreeandbeneficialcommercewiththeinhabitantsofthePersianGulf。Thesubjectsofthegreatkingexalted，withoutarival，hispowerandmagnificence:andtheRoman，whoconfoundedtheirvanitybycomparinghispaltrycoinwithagoldmedaloftheemperorAnastasius，hadsailedtoCeylon，inanAethiopianship，asasimplepassenger。^72
[Footnote67:Procopius，Persic。l。i。c。20，l。ii。c。25；
Gothic。l。iv。c。17。MenanderinExcerpt。Legat。p。107。OftheParthianorPersianempire，IsidoreofCharaxinStathmisParthicis，p。7，8，inHudson，Geograph。Minor。tom。ii。hasmarkedtheroads，andAmmianusMarcellinusl。xxiii。c。6，p。
400hasenumeratedtheprovinces。
Note:SeeSt。Martin，Mem。surl\'Armenie，vol。ii。p。41。—
M。]
[Footnote68:TheblindadmirationoftheJesuitsconfoundsthedifferentperiodsoftheChinesehistory。TheyaremorecriticallydistinguishedbyM。deGuignes，Hist。desHuns，tom。
i。parti。intheTables，partii。intheGeography。Memoiresdel\'AcademiedesInscriptions，tom。xxxii。xxxvi。xlii。xliii。，
whodiscoversthegradualprogressofthetruthoftheannalsandtheextentofthemonarchy，tilltheChristianaera。Hehassearched，withacuriouseye，theconnectionsoftheChinesewiththenationsoftheWest；buttheseconnectionsareslight，casual，andobscure；nordidtheRomansentertainasuspicionthattheSeresorSinaepossessedanempirenotinferiortotheirown。
Note:Anabstractofthevariousopinionsofthelearnedmodernwriters，Gosselin，Mannert，Lelewel，Malte—Brun，Heeren，andLaTreille，ontheSericaandtheThinaeoftheancients，maybefoundintheneweditionofMalte—Brun，vol。vi。p。368，382。
—M。]
[Footnote69:TheroadsfromChinatoPersiaandHindostanmaybeinvestigatedintherelationsofHackluytandThevenot，theambassadorsofSharokh，AnthonyJenkinson，thePereGreuber，&c。
SeelikewiseHanway\'sTravels，vol。i。p。345—357。A
communicationthroughThibethasbeenlatelyexploredbytheEnglishsovereignsofBengal。]
[Footnote70:FortheChinesenavigationtoMalaccaandAchin，perhapstoCeylon，seeRenaudot，onthetwoMahometanTravellers，p。8—11，13—17，141—157；Dampier，vol。ii。p。
136；theHist。PhilosophiquedesdeuxIndes，tom。i。p。98，
andHist。GeneraledesVoyages，tom。vi。p。201。]
[Footnote71:Theknowledge，orratherignorance，ofStrabo，Pliny，Ptolemy，Arrian，Marcian，&c。，ofthecountrieseastwardofCapeComorin，isfinelyillustratedbyD\'Anville，AntiquiteGeographiquedel\'Inde，especiallyp。161—198。OurgeographyofIndiaisimprovedbycommerceandconquest；andhasbeenillustratedbytheexcellentmapsandmemoirsofMajorRennel。
Ifheextendsthesphereofhisinquirieswiththesamecriticalknowledgeandsagacity，hewillsucceed，andmaysurpass，thefirstofmoderngeographers。]
[Footnote72:TheTaprobaneofPliny，vi。24，Solinus，c。53，
andSalmas。PlinianaeExercitat。，p。781，782，andmostoftheancients，whooftenconfoundtheislandsofCeylonandSumatra，ismoreclearlydescribedbyCosmasIndicopleustes；yeteventheChristiantopographerhasexaggerateditsdimensions。HisinformationontheIndianandChinesetradeisrareandcurious，l。ii。p。138，l。xi。p。337，338，edit。Montfaucon。]
Assilkbecameofindispensableuse，theemperorJustiniansawwithconcernthatthePersianshadoccupiedbylandandseathemonopolyofthisimportantsupply，andthatthewealthofhissubjectswascontinuallydrainedbyanationofenemiesandidolaters。AnactivegovernmentwouldhaverestoredthetradeofEgyptandthenavigationoftheRedSea，whichhaddecayedwiththeprosperityoftheempire；andtheRomanvesselsmighthavesailed，forthepurchaseofsilk，totheportsofCeylon，ofMalacca，orevenofChina。Justinianembracedamorehumbleexpedient，andsolicitedtheaidofhisChristianallies，theAethiopiansofAbyssinia，whohadrecentlyacquiredtheartsofnavigation，thespiritoftrade，andtheseaportofAdulis，^73
stilldecoratedwiththetrophiesofaGrecianconqueror。
AlongtheAfricancoast，theypenetratedtotheequatorinsearchofgold，emeralds，andaromatics；buttheywiselydeclinedanunequalcompetition，inwhichtheymustbealwayspreventedbythevicinityofthePersianstothemarketsofIndia；andtheemperorsubmittedtothedisappointment，tillhiswishesweregratifiedbyanunexpectedevent。ThegospelhadbeenpreachedtotheIndians:abishopalreadygovernedtheChristiansofSt。
Thomasonthepepper—coastofMalabar；achurchwasplantedinCeylon，andthemissionariespursuedthefootstepsofcommercetotheextremitiesofAsia。^74TwoPersianmonkshadlongresidedinChina，perhapsintheroyalcityofNankin，theseatofamonarchaddictedtoforeignsuperstitions，andwhoactuallyreceivedanembassyfromtheIsleofCeylon。Amidsttheirpiousoccupations，theyviewedwithacuriouseyethecommondressoftheChinese，themanufacturesofsilk，andthemyriadsofsilk—worms，whoseeducationeitherontreesorinhouseshadoncebeenconsideredasthelaborofqueens。^75Theysoondiscoveredthatitwasimpracticabletotransporttheshort—livedinsect，butthatintheeggsanumerousprogenymightbepreservedandmultipliedinadistantclimate。ReligionorinteresthadmorepoweroverthePersianmonksthantheloveoftheircountry:afteralongjourney，theyarrivedatConstantinople，impartedtheirprojecttotheemperor，andwereliberallyencouragedbythegiftsandpromisesofJustinian。Tothehistoriansofthatprince，acampaignatthefootofMountCaucasushasseemedmoredeservingofaminuterelationthanthelaborsofthesemissionariesofcommerce，whoagainenteredChina，deceivedajealouspeoplebyconcealingtheeggsofthesilk—worminahollowcane，andreturnedintriumphwiththespoilsoftheEast。Undertheirdirection，theeggswerehatchedattheproperseasonbytheartificialheatofdung；thewormswerefedwithmulberryleaves；theylivedandlaboredinaforeignclimate；asufficientnumberofbutterflieswassavedtopropagatetherace，andtreeswereplantedtosupplythenourishmentoftherisinggenerations。Experienceandreflectioncorrectedtheerrorsofanewattempt，andtheSogdoiteambassadorsacknowledged，inthesucceedingreign，thattheRomanswerenotinferiortothenativesofChinaintheeducationoftheinsects，andthemanufacturesofsilk，^76inwhichbothChinaandConstantinoplehavebeensurpassedbytheindustryofmodernEurope。Iamnotinsensibleofthebenefitsofelegantluxury；yetIreflectwithsomepain，thatiftheimportersofsilkhadintroducedtheartofprinting，alreadypractisedbytheChinese，thecomediesofMenanderandtheentiredecadsofLivywouldhavebeenperpetuatedintheeditionsofthesixthcentury。
Alargerviewoftheglobemightatleasthavepromotedtheimprovementofspeculativescience，buttheChristiangeographywasforciblyextractedfromtextsofScripture，andthestudyofnaturewasthesurestsymptomofanunbelievingmind。Theorthodoxfaithconfinedthehabitableworldtoonetemperatezone，andrepresentedtheearthasanoblongsurface，fourhundreddays\'journeyinlength，twohundredinbreadth，encompassedbytheocean，andcoveredbythesolidcrystalofthefirmament。^77
[Footnote73:SeeProcopius，Persic。l。ii。c。20。CosmasaffordssomeinterestingknowledgeoftheportandinscriptionofAdulis，Topograph。Christ。l。ii。p。138，140—143，andofthetradeoftheAxumitesalongtheAfricancoastofBarbariaorZingi，p。138，139，andasfarasTaprobane，l。xi。p。339。]
[Footnote*:Mr。SaltobtainedinformationofconsiderableruinsofanancienttownnearZulla，calledAzoole，whichanswerstothepositionofAdulis。Mr。Saltwaspreventedbyillness，Mr。
Stuart，whomhesent，bythejealousyofthenatives，frominvestigatingtheseruins:oftheirexistencethereseemsnodoubt。Salt\'s2dJourney，p。452。—M。]
[Footnote74:SeetheChristianmissionsinIndia，inCosmas，l。
iii。p。178，179，l。xi。p。337，andconsultAsseman。Bibliot。
Orient。tom。iv。p。413—548。]
[Footnote75:Theinvention，manufacture，andgeneraluseofsilkinChina，maybeseeninDuhalde，DescriptionGeneraledelaChine，tom。ii。p。165，205—223。TheprovinceofChekianisthemostrenownedbothforquantityandquality。]
[Footnote76:Procopius，l。viii。Gothic。iv。c。17。TheophanesByzant。apudPhot。Cod。lxxxiv。p。38。Zonaras，tom。ii。l。xiv。
p。69。Pagitom。ii。p。602assignstotheyear552thismemorableimportation。MenanderinExcerpt。Legat。p。107
mentionstheadmirationoftheSogdoites；andTheophylactSimocattal。vii。c。9darklyrepresentsthetworivalkingdomsinChinathecountryofsilk。]
[Footnote77:Cosmas，surnamedIndicopleustes，ortheIndiannavigator，performedhisvoyageabouttheyear522，andcomposedatAlexandria，between535，and547，ChristianTopography，Montfaucon，Praefat。c。i。，inwhichherefutestheimpiousopinion，thattheearthisaglobe；andPhotiushadreadthiswork，Cod。xxxvi。p。9，10，whichdisplaystheprejudicesofamonk，withtheknowledgeofamerchant；themostvaluableparthasbeengiveninFrenchandinGreekbyMelchisedecThevenot，RelationsCurieuses，parti。，andthewholeissincepublishedinasplendideditionbyPereMontfaucon，NovaCollectioPatrum，Paris，1707，2vols。infol。，tom。ii。p。113—346。Buttheeditor，atheologian，mightblushatnotdiscoveringtheNestorianheresyofCosmas，whichhasbeendetectedbyLaCrozChristianismedesIndes，tom。i。p。40—56。]