The Seres must be supposed to have dwelt somewhere in the centre of Asia. Perhaps those geographers who represent Little Bucharia as their country[32], are nearest the truth, and thus far neither Greeks nor Romans had penetrated. Silk was brought to them “from nations, to which even their commerce had not yet extended.” Hence their inaccurate ideas respecting its origin[33]. [32] The position of Serica is discussed by Latreille in his paper hereafter cited. See also Mannert. iv. 6. 6, 7. Brotier, Mém. de l’Acad. des Inscrip. tom. 46. John Reinhold Forster (_De Bysso_, p. 20, 21.) thinks that Little Bucharia was certainly the ancient Serica. Sir John Barrow (_Travels in China_, p. 435-438.) thinks the Seres were not the Chinese. [33] The first author who speaks of the Seres as a distinct nation, is Mela, iii. 7. He describes them as a very honest people, who brought what they had to sell, laid it down and went away, and then returned for the price of it. The same account is given by Eustathius, on Dyonisius, l. 752. p. 242, Bernhardy. SENECA, THE TRAGEDIAN. Nec Mæonià distinguit acu, Quæ Phœbeis subditus Euris Legit Eois Ser arboribus. _Herc. Œtæus_, 664. Nor with Mæonian needle marks the web, Gather’d by Eastern Seres from the trees. Seres, illustrious for their fleece. _Thyestes_, 378. Remove, ye maids, the vests, whose tissue glares With purple and with gold; far be the red Of Tyrian murex, and the shining thread, Which furthest Seres gather from the boughs. _Hyppolitus_, 386. (_Phædra loquitur._) At a very early period the art of dyeing had been carried to a very great degree of perfection in Phœnicia. The method of dyeing woollen cloths purple was, it is said, first discovered at Tyre. This color, the most celebrated among the ancients, appears to have been brought to a degree of excellence, of which we can form but a very faint idea: “In oldest times, when kings and hardy chiefs In bleating sheep-folds met, for purest wool Phœnicia’s hilly tracts were most renown’d, And fertile Syria’s and Judæa’s land, Hermon, and Seir, and Hebron’s brooky sides, Twice with the murex, crimson hue, they ting’d The shining fleeces--hence their gorgeous wealth; And hence arose the walls of ancient Tyre[34].” [34] Old Tyre was besieged by Nebuchadnezzar in the second year after the destruction of Jerusalem, or 584 B. C. LUCAN. Candida Sidonio perlucent pectora filo, Quod Nilotis acus percussum pectine Serum Solvit, et extenso laxavit stamina velo. L. x. 141. Her snowy breast shines through Sidonian threads, First by the comb of distant Seres struck, Divided then by Egypt’s skilful toil, And with embroidery transparent made.