And in some such ways as the above, slaves, in early times, must have been procured; for, as Timæos of Taormina[47] remarks, the Greeks of those ages obtained none in the regular course of traffic. He further adds, that Aristotle was generally accused of having misunderstood the usages of the Locrians, among whom, as among the Phocians,[48] it was not of old the custom to possess slaves, whether male or female. The practice, however, prevailed in later times; and the wife of that Philomelos who took Delphi is said to have been the first who was attended by two servile handmaids.[49] But when men commence evil courses, they seldom know where to stop. Mnason, a Phocian, and friend of Aristotle,[50] ambitious of rivalling Nicias, the son of Niceratos, purchased for his own service a thousand slaves, for which he was accused by his countrymen of lavishing upon them what would have supported an equal number of free persons.[51] In that country, therefore, it is clear there existed a class of labourers like the Thetes described by Homer, who were ready to work for hire.[52] In their domestic economy the simplicity of their manners enabled the Phocians and Locrians to dispense with the services of slaves, it being the custom among them, as among the rustics of Eubœa, whom we have described above, for the younger members of the family to wait on the elder.[53] ----- Footnote 47: Ap. Athen. vi. 86. See, however, the testimony of Polybius, xii. 5. Footnote 48: Cf. Suid. v. δουλοσύνη. i. 769. Footnote 49: Athen. vi. 86. Footnote 50: Ælian. Var. Hist. iii. 19. Footnote 51: Athen. vi. 86. Footnote 52: Odyss. δ. 644. Footnote 53: Athen. vi. 86. -----