Calamus

Calamus, the reed pen which the ancients used in writing, was made of the stem of a reed growing in marshy places, probably Arundo Donax (see REED), of which the best were obtained from Egypt. The stem was first softened, then dried, and cut and split with a knife (scalprum librarium), as quill pens are made. To this day the Orientals generally write with a reed (Arab. Kalām).