Page:The history of silk, cotton, linen, wool, and other fibrous substances 2.djvu/49

 Homer asserts that the Egyptian queen Alcandra presented Helen with a silver work-basket as well as a golden distaff (Odyss. iv.); and from the paintings on ancient vases, we see that the calathi of ladies of rank were tastefully wrought and richly ornamented. From the term qualus or quasillus, equivalent to calathus, the Romans called the female slaves employed in spinning quasillariæ.

The material prepared for spinning was wrapped loosely round the distaff, the wool being previously combed, or the flax hackled by processes not very dissimilar to those used at the present day amongst the peasantry in the west of Ireland. The ball thus formed on the distaff required to be arranged with some neatness and skill, in order that the fibres should be sufficiently loose to be drawn out by the hand of the spinner. Ovid declares, that Arachne's skill in this simple process excited the wonder of the nymphs who came to see her triumphs in the texile art, not less than the finished labors of the loom.

Oft, to admire the niceness of her skill, The nymphs would quit their fountain, shade, or hill: Thither from green Tymolus they repair, And leave the vineyards, their peculiar care; Thither from fair Pactolus' golden stream, Drawn by her art, the curious Naids came. Nor would the work, when finish'd, please so much As while she wrought to view each graceful touch; Whether the shapeless wool in balls she wound, Or with quick motion turn'd the spindle round.

Met, vi.

The distaff was generally about three feet in length, commonly a stick or reed, with an expansion near the top for holding the ball. It was sometimes, as we have shown, composed of richer materials. The distaff was usually held under the left arm, and the fibres were drawn out from the projecting ball, being, at the same time, spirally twisted by the forefinger and thumb of the right hand. The thread so produced was wound upon the spindle until the quantity was as great as it would carry.

The spindle was made of some light wood, or reed, and was