'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOL. III.' [‎429v] (863/982)

848
SHI—SHI
sale. These carpets have a good reputation both in regard to their texture
and their patterns. Saddle-bags are also made of the same material as
carpets and gillms, and are exported in fair quantity.
Namad, or felt, is used for rugs, coats for men and clothing for horses.
Tents and curtains —Made of a rough cotton cloth called “Karbas,” similar
to the Indian dungaree. The tents are in great local demand, but are also
exported to ’Arabistan. The curtains are used for screening the sides of
houses from the sun and, in winter, to promote warmth.
“ Karbds ” the cloth above-mentioned.
“ Nassdji ” are native coloured cloths, used as sheets, towels, etc.
“ Tirimeh ” shawls, an imitation of the Cashmere shawl, but of an inferior
class and only used locally.
Inlaid work, an industry for which Shiraz has long been famous. All
sorts of articles, such as picture-frames, boxes, etc., are made for export,
but as the demand increases, the workmanship deteriorates, and the very
fine work of the past is almost a lost art. Wages have not increased in
proportion to the cost of living.
Silver work is a speciality, and the productions much sought after by
Europeans.
Qalidns, the hukah of Persia, some of which are very beautifully worked
in the precious metals. The bowls are generally formed of a cocoanut,
the more costly description mounted with silver and gold. The prices
vary from Is. to £-30.
Bough brown 'payer made from rags of an inferior kind.
Country soap made from fat, ashes, and lime. It is used for washing
clothes and in the public baths. Soap is not an article in great demand in
Persia.
Small arms. —Guns, pistols, and even revolvers are made by hand. The
action of the Martini-Henry has been copied and really good weapons are
turned out, the best being valued at £25. Shot guns and match locks
are the most usually made and are sold to villagers and tribesmen, but the
makers are unable to compete with the imported article and the trade is de
teriorating. Gunsmiths in Persia are quite capable of replacing a broken
gunstock.
Swords, daggers and cutlery .—The manufactures of Shiraz were once
famous and there is even now a demand for their wares in Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire.
and Turkey. This industry has much declined since the introduction of
firearms, but there is still a fairly large local demand. As cutlers, the
Shirazis are expert workmen, but they find it hard to compete with
machine-made goods.
Combs made of ebony, sandalwood, etc., find a considerable local demand
and are largely exported to India and Jiddah.
Matting of a better quality for prayer and sleeping mats, and also a
common quality of reed mats.
Papier Mdche. —This was once a considerable industry and included the
making and painting of fancy articles such as pen-cases. It has now de
clined and inferior articles only are manufactured.
Silk. —Formerly an extensive industry, which has now been lost sight of
owing to the disease among the silkworms.