PERSIA AND JAVA. 361 



be pursued by a curse ever after.' So afraid are the 

 Arabs of losing their farrier, that if he happens to grow 

 rich, a quarrel is fastened upon him, and a portion of 

 his wealth taken away to prevent his leaving the district. 

 A farrier whose tribe has been plundered, seeks out the 

 robbers, and on the simple proof of his trade, recovers 

 his tent, tools, utensils, and horse-shoes.' 



In Persia the traditions belonging to the craft are 

 many and curious. One of these relates to Baduspan, 

 who, very many centuries ago, possessed himself of the 

 sovereignty of Ruyan and Rostemdar, a district of that 

 country, and who was a descendant of that blacksmith so 

 famous in the history of the East — Kawe by name. This 

 valiant worker in iron overthrew the tyrant Sohak, and 

 hoisted his leather apron for a flag ; which distinguishing 

 badge, adorned with pearls and jewels, glittered till the 

 end of that monarchy, as the national standard. 



After conquering the tyrant, Feridun, the legitimate 

 heir to the throne, was duly proclaimed king by the mag- 

 nanimous smith, Kawe. Feridun's mother had taken 

 refuge in the forests soon after his birth, and had fed the 

 child with the milk of a buflalo cow, the head of which, 

 sculptured on that monarch's mace, has become no less 

 celebrated among the national insignia than the leather 

 apron. ^ 



In Java, and throughout the Eastern Archipelago, 

 the workers in iron hold very high rank, and in ancient 

 times were not unfrequently kings or princes. In other 

 countries, it has often been the boast of monarchs and 



* E. Daumas. Les Chevaux du Sahara. 

 ' C. Von Hammer. Histoire des Assassins, p. 230. Paris, 1833. 



