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their public records were inscribed on stone； brass；
lead or other metals。
Papyrus as then introduced into those western
countries was the only substance for a long period
employed for literary purposes。
Parchment and vellum； which were adopted there
as writing materials about two centuries later； were
too costly to be used so long as papyrus was within
reach。
When the use of this ancient paper had become
established in the countries bordering on the Mediterranean；
all the MSS。 assumed the form of rolls； being
rolled on cylinders of wood； ivory； bronze； glass and
other substances。 Sometimes； the ends were decorated
by various ornaments。 As a rule only one side of
the material was written upon。 This was due largely
to the fact of its brittle character which would cause
it to break if rolled or bent the wrong way。
The ancient manufacture of papyrus for export
was carried on in Egypt on an extensive scale and
in the most systematic manner。 A gradual improvement
in quality was the result； some of the kinds
being given well…known Roman names which are
mentioned by contemporary writers。 The kind employed
by the Romans for ordinary use was designated
Charta。 More expensive qualities were known as
〃Augusta；〃 〃Livinia；〃 〃Hieratica；〃 etc。； the latter
being reserved for religious books。 Some kinds were
sold by weight and employed by the tradesmen for
wrapping purposes； while the bark of the plant was
manufactured into cord and rope。
The methods of the manufacture of papyrus as a
writing material Pliny undertakes to describe at
great length； and while he asserts many things from
probable knowledge and the information at hand in
his time； yet he is not always correct。 He says that
the reed stalks were cut into lengths and separated
〃by splitting the successive folds of the stalk with a
fine metal point。〃
Mr。 Knight； who investigated this matter with care；
is authority for the statement； that the papyrus stalk
as seen under the microscope shows that it does not
possess successive folds； but is a triangular stalk with
a single envelope with a pith on the inside； which
could only be divided into slices with a knife； either
in stripes of a width permitted by the sides of the prism；
or else shaved round and round； like the operation of
cork making； and producing a long spiral shaving。
In the description which Pliny gives of the various
homes of this plant in Egypt； he calls particular
attention to its abundance in marshy places where
the Nile overflows and stagnates： 〃It grows like a
great bulrush from fibrous； reedy roots； and runs up
in several triangular stalks to a considerable height。〃
They possessed large tufted heads； but only the stem
was fit for making into paper。 After the pellicles or
thin coats were removed from the stalk； they were
laid upon tables two or more over each other and
glued together with the muddy and glutinous water
of the Nile or with fine paste made of wheat flour；
after being pressed and dried they were made smooth
with a ruler and then rubbed over with a glass hemisphere。
The size of the paper seldom exceeded two
feet。
Papyrus was also known to the Hebrews。
The Prophet Isaiah （B。 C。 752） refers to this plant
when he says：
〃The paper reeds by the brooks； and everything
sown by the brooks； shall wither； be driven away
and be no more。〃
Which prediction seems to have been long ago fulfilled
as the plant is now exceedingly rare。
The manufacture of Egyptian paper from papyrus
it is said was quite an industry in the ancient city of
Memphis more than six hundred years before the
Christian era。
The Mexicans employed for writing a paper which
somewhat resembled the Egyptian papyrus。 It was
prepared from the aloe； called by the natives Maguey
which grows wild over the tablelands of Mexico。 It
could be easily colored and seemed to bind to ink
very closely。 It could be rolled up in scrolls just like
the more ancient rolls of papyrus。
The following account of an interesting discovery
of a fragment of one of the 〃Orations of Hyperides；〃
by Mr。 Harris； the well…known Oriental scholar； is
derived from the London Athenaeum：
〃In the winter of 1847 Mr。 Harris was sitting
in his boat； under the shade of the well…known
sycamore； on the western bank of the Nile； at
Thebes； ready to start for Nubia； when an Arab
brought him a fragment of a papyrus roll； which
he ventured to open sufficiently to ascertain that it
was written in the Greek language； and which he
bought before proceeding further on his journey。
Upon his return to Alexandria； where circumstances
were more favorable to the difficult operation of
unrolling a fragile papyrus； he discovered that be
possessed a fragment of the oration of Hyperides
against Demosthenes； in the matter of Harpalus；
and also a very small fragment of another oration；
the whole written in extremely legible characters；
and of a form or fashion which those learned in
Greek MSS。 consider to be of the time of the
Ptolemies。 With these interesting fragments of orations
of an orator so celebrated is Hyperides； of whose
works nothing； is extant but a few quotations in
other Greek writers； he embarked for England。
Upon his arrival there he submitted the precious
relics to the inspection of the Council and members
of the Royal Society of Literature； who were unanimous
in their judgment as to the importance and
genuineness of the MSS。； and Mr。 Harris immediately
set to work； and with his own hand made a
lithographic facsimile of each piece。 Of this performance
a few copies were printed and distributed
among the savants of Europe；and Mr。 Harris returned
to Alexandria； whence he has made more
than one journey to Thebes in the hope of discovering
some other portion of the volume； of which
he already had a part。 In the same year （1847）
another English gentleman； Mr。 Joseph Arden； of
London； bought at Thebes a papyrus； which he
likewise brought to England。 Induced by the success
of Mr。 Harris； Mr。 Arden submitted his roll
to the skilful and experienced hands of Mr。
Hogarth； and upon the completion of the operation
of unrolling； the MSS。 was discovered to be the
terminating portion of the very same volume of
which Mr。 Harris had bought a fragment of the
former part in the very same year； and probably of
the very same Arabs。 No doubt now existed that
the volume； when entire； consisted of a collection
of； or a selection from； the orations of the celebrated
Athenian orator； Hyperides。
〃The portion of the volume which has fallen into
the possession of Mr。 Arden contains 'fifteen continuous
columns of the 〃Oration for Lycophron；〃
to which work three of Mr。 Harris's fragments appertained；
and likewise the 〃Oration for Euxenippus；〃
which is quite complete and in beautiful
preservation。 Whether； as Mr。 Babington observes
in his preface to the work； a