'Through Persia on a side-saddle' [‎100] (131/360)

THROUGH PERSIA ON A SIDE-SADDLE
mentioning its carpets, felts, and shawls, which are famous
throughout Asia.
The felts, or numads, are made of wool with pretty
coloured designs on buff or brown grounds, and the shawls,
resembling those of Cashmere, are in great request for
khelats, or robes of honour, which are given by the Shah or
by men of high rank to those to whom they wish to show
signal favour. They are also made into inner coats, and
worn by most Persians of position.
The Kerman carpets are of wonderfully fine texture,
having the pattern clearly indicated on the reverse side,
and are coloured with exquisite vegetable dyes. Like most
Oriental carpets, they became handsomer after years of use,
their colours blending into a mellow richness and subdued
brightness. As a rule they are only made in small sizes,
unless specially ordered, and are by no means cheap. We
paid ^8 for several of our carpets, not much larger than
rugs, that being the cost price in Kerman. Birds, beasts,
and even human figures are introduced into these carpets,
and as this is entirely contrary to the tenets of Moham
medanism, it shows that the Kerman patterns are of great
antiquity, and are prior to the Arab invasion of Persia.