GOATS-HAIR; Moses used Goats-hair to make the curtains of the Tabernacle. Ancient and modern Writers speak often of the Goats of Asia, Phrygia, and Cilicia, whose Hair, which was very large, is cut off, in order to make stuffs with it. Bellon says, that the Hair of these Goats is white; Busbequius assures us, that it is very bright and fine, and hangs to the ground; that the beauty of it is equal almost to that of silk, that it is never sheared, but combed off. The shepherds are careful to wash them frequently in rivers. The women of the country spin this Hair, and it is carried to Angora, where it is worked, and a good dye given it. There is still at this day a great trade driven with it at Angora and Aleppo. See likewise Aristotle, Hist. Animal. l. 8. c. 18. 22. and Plin. l. 8. c. 50. and Varro de Re Rustica, l. 2. and Virgil’s Georgicks.
M. Tournefort procured these Goats of Angora with their Hair, to be delineated and engraved. He says, that they are the most beautiful Goats in the world; that they dazzle people with their whiteness. Their Hair is as fine as silk, curls naturally in locks of eight or nine inches long. Several fine stuffs are made with it, particularly camlet. These Goats are to be seen only at four or five days journey from Angora and Beibasar. Their brood degenerates if they are carried farther off; in all probability, by reason of the pasture which is fatter than at the places we have named. Goats-Hair sells at different prices: some of it is much dearer than the other; but that which is so valuable, is designed only for the camlet which is made for the Grand Senior’s Seraglio.
Matth. iii. 4. Mar. i. 6.The workmen of Angora use the pure thread only in their camlets; whereas at Brussels, for what reason I cannot tell, they are forced to mix yarn with it. In England, they put some of this Hair into perriwigs, but there is no necessity for having it spun.