and a half feet, quite modern, but very
fine and with splendid colors, has been sold at Teheran for eight
hundred dollars.

[Illustration: ARABIAN RUG

SIZE, 4.10 x 7.5

_Although distinctly Arabic in style, this rug was probably woven in the
vicinity of Shiraz. The squares which form the design resemble an
old-fashioned log-cabin quilt in the variety of their colors and the
regularity of their stripes. Some hues are green, then red comes into
play, while plum, brown, yellow, and blue are also employed. The wide
border of stripes shows the Shiraz ornamentation in its beauty, and the
Greek crosses suggest the possibility of a Christian weaver. There is a
fine sheen on the surface. This rug is quite heavy, and its very oddity
makes it interesting to the collector._]

TURKISH RUGS

The term Turkish Rugs includes all those rugs that are manufactured
within the Turkish Empire, whether the manufacturers be Kurds or
Circassians or Christians; the last of these names comprises the
Armenians, the Greeks, and the Syrians. Turkish rugs are not so finely
woven as Persian; they have a longer pile and looser texture. As they
are usually very soft and thick, the foot when walking upon them feels
as if it were treading upon a bed of moss.

The principal rug-manufacturing district of Turkey is Karajah Dagh. Much
weaving is done also at Caesarea. The rugs found at Adana are generally
from the latter region, while those sold at Urfa are either from the
Kurdish territory or from Persia. In Constantinople are seen rugs from
almost every part of Asia, but the greatest number are from within the
Turkish territory of Transcaucasia.

Each rug-weaving district of Turkey seems to have a distinct and
individual class of rugs; and this is not surprising, for there are a
number of different tribes, each of which impresses its individuality
upon the work. The surface configuration and the climate of a place
have much to do with the quality of the rugs manufactured within it.
Naturally, in the rocky, mountainous regions the flocks consist of goats
instead of sheep. The sheep would be injured among the steep, sharp
crags, and much of their wool would be lost, as it would adhere to the
rocks. The goats, however, being hardy, easily jump from crag to crag,
sustaining no injury to their hair.

The hair of the goat is woven into the mohair and so-called Smyrna rugs,
and also into what is known as Paul's Tent Cloth. This last is woven
quite di