NEEDLES. .
Aig-uille, FR. Jarnm, . . . MALEAL.
Nadel, . . . GER. Wusigal, . . TAM.
Sui, HIND. SLRIIIIR, . . . . TEL.
Ago, IT. Iyne, Ighne, . . TURK.
The ancient Egyptians were, skilled in needle work. Joseph's dyed coat of many colours is, however, the first mention (n.c. 1705) of this Art amongst the Hebrews, and the only elaborate description of needle-work in the Bible is of that made by tho Hebrew women to decorate the tabernacle and tho priests' dresses. At the period of the building of the tabernacle, the priests' ephods were to be made of ' gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work.' And beneath upon the hem of it, thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof ; and bells of gold between them round about. . . . And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and thou shalt make the mitre of fine linen, and thou shalt make the girdle of needle-work. And for Aaron's sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty' (Exodus xxviii. 30, 39, 40). ' Moreover, thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet : with cherubim of cunning work shalt thou make them ' (Exodus xxvi. 1). This curtain is elsewhere more particu
larly described as being of linen entirely, on which the most skilful of the Hebrew ladies embroidered cherubims with scarlet, purple, light blue, and gold thread, which was solid bullion, beaten out so fine that it could be even woven. The women had devoted their bracelets and other gold ornaments to the purpose, and every one who had cloth of the beautiful dyes named also made an offering of it. Besides this, 'all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen. And all the women whose hearts stirred them up in wisdom spun goat's hair.' rhe linen embroidered made the inner covering of the temple. The spun goat's hair was the second covering, and above were skins, such as the Arabs still use for their tents. Embroidered work was executed in India, and exported from it in very remote ages, and the use of needles is very frequently referred to.—Leisure Hour. See Embroidery.