BRICK ARCHITECTURE. 143 



covered by large and very flat brick domes, in tbe building 

 of which the Persian architects greatly excel. The 

 patterns introduced into the brickwork, and the variety 

 and shape of the arches which support these halls, add 

 much to their effect. They are the principal places where 

 the wholesale trade of the city goes on ; round the sides 

 are the shops ; over them again are offices, or rather dens, 

 where 



' Above their merchandise 

 The merchants of the market sit, 

 Lying to foolish men and wise.' 



Each of these shops, with the den over it, is encased by a 

 brickwork arch, the space inside the arch intervening 

 between the lower and upper rooms being filled in with 

 neat woodwork. The walls are often hung with very 

 effective black-and-white cotton drapery, on which the 

 favourite device of the Persian lion, with the sun rising 

 out of his back, is displayed. The centre of the hall 

 is generally occupied by a pile of carpets, on the top 

 of which their owner is often to be seen performing 

 his prostrations. There are other halls, entirely built of 

 wood, and supported by roughly-finished poles ; which 

 are as gaily decorated and as quaint, if not so handsome, 

 as the brick buildings. There are besides, in the business 

 quarter of the town, numerous open squares, some of 

 them very large ; a row of shops extends all round them, 

 and at the centre of each of the four sides is usually a brick 

 apse, in the form of a gigantic alcove. In the middle is 

 a fountain, and the court is planted with flowering shrubs, 

 such as guelder-roses and lilacs. 



The outer circle of bazaars, for rough retail goods, 

 is mostly covered by picturesque wooden roofs. Here the 

 grocers' stalls, tastefully decorated with devices in tinfoil, 

 and the provision-shops, set out with nosegays of butter- 



