e, and sincerity. It is the color of the highest degree of
official rank. White is the symbol of mourning; black represents vice
and depravity.

In Turkey, green is the most sacred color; and for that reason a true
follower of Mahomet will not permit it to be used in his rugs, for fear
it may be profaned by being stepped upon. Thirty-five or forty years ago
no Christian was allowed to wear even a vestige of green anywhere upon
him, while in Turkey; but this law is not now so rigidly enforced. If
the Prophet or any of his family wear this color, no objection is
raised, as he and they are considered holy, and thus exempt from the
penalty. White is the color permitted to a student or a teacher of the
law. To the Mohammedans of India and Persia, as to the Chinese, white is
the emblem of mourning. In India, orange signifies devotion or pious
resignation, and blue means ill-luck to the Hindoo.

Red was the favorite color of the Gauls, purple of the Romans, and
saffron of the Greeks.

II

RUG-WEAVING IN EGYPT, PERSIA, AND TURKEY

RUG-WEAVING IN EGYPT

The supply of skins having been found inadequate to the gratification of
their desire for comfort, the ancient Egyptians gradually developed the
art of making mats from papyrus, a plant as important to them as any of
our trees, fibrous grasses, or hemp are to us. While at work on the
manufacture of these mats, the weavers used to squat on the ground. They
became skilful, both in constructing the fabric and arranging the
colors; the latter were quite bright and effective, being chiefly red,
blue, yellow, and green, with black and white to define.

Egyptians used rugs in the decoration of their rooms, hanging them on
walls and also suspending them between the pillars. But as the glory of
Egypt departed, her skill in rug-making also declined; and the Egyptian
rugs of the present day are of a coarse quality, being made in private
houses under the primitive conditions that existed thousands of years
ago. The last manufactory in working order was at Boulak, a suburb of
Cairo, but it has been closed for several years. A great many rugs,
however, are imported into Egypt, the majority being from Persia,
Turkey, and India. Cairo is still one of the leading emporiums for the
sale to tourists of rugs of Eastern make.

PERSIAN RUGS

In Persia the art of rug-making has attained a very high degree of
excellence, having been practised there during many centuries; indeed,
th