st have been bestowed on it. The
richness of coloring, the velvet-like texture, the repose of design, are
all unusual. The foundation is of a deep rich blue, and the exquisite
rose and sapphire blues and ivory tones are in the softest and richest
of permanent dyes. The border is wide, the main stripe of the rose
shade, and the coloring all so blended that the continuity of the rug is
complete. It is doubtless a product of Kurdistan._

OWNED BY MRS. POTTER PALMER, CHICAGO.]

The finest rugs are closely woven, with a pile like velvet, and with
stitches on the back that resemble needlework. A rug has scarcely
reached its prime until it has been down ten years; and it should last
for centuries, if carefully used. As a partial explanation of this
wonderful durability, it should be remembered that in their own homes
the Persians use their finest rugs for hangings, and also that they take
off their shoes before entering the house.

In ancient days rug-weaving in Persia was generally restricted to
Ispahan, Khorassan, and Shuster, but in modern times the most noted
districts are those of Sultanabad, Fars, Hamadan, Feraghan, Bijar,
Kurdistan, Khorassan, and Kirman. But the industry is so widely spread
over Persia that there is not a class of women who do not live by it,
and very often really fine pieces of work are produced in districts
where the art receives no encouragement. The districts mentioned above
are more noted for the quality of the rugs they produce than for
anything else. The rug of each district has a peculiar character of its
own, both as to the quality of the wool and the design. The
peculiarities characterizing each district are so noticeable that an
expert can generally tell at a glance where a rug was made.

It is very difficult, if not impossible, to discover the exact value of
the export and import trade of Persia. The source of this information is
naturally the Customs Administration, which in Persia exists but in
name. The duties of the ports and principal towns are farmed out to
various persons, whose interest it is to send the inquirer away as
ignorant upon the subject as he was before the interview began. But it
is possible, after a great deal of labor in collecting statistics from
the dealers of a particular article, to form an estimate probably not
very far from the truth. By this method we judge that the average yearly
export value of rugs in Aaragh (the Sultanabad district) is three
hundred thous