PERSIA. 317 



can be detected when the eye is iii doubt by the application of a wet 

 cloth to the suspected tint. 



There is one species of rug which appears to be peculiar to this region 

 in the texture, which suggests knitted rather than woven work. This 

 species of rug is called ghileem. The pattern is identical on both sides, 

 allowing the use of either side, which practically doubles the use. Many 

 of these ghileems are made in the province of Kurdistan. The colors 

 arc at once tirm and brilliant and the designs often of extraordinary 

 beauty. The lightness and flexibility of these carpets qualify them for 

 portieres, table and sofa covers, and at the same time render them easy 

 for transportation. In consequence large quantities have been exported 

 and found favor in Europe. The ghileems of Shuster are preferable for 

 portieres. Considering their beauty their cost is comparatively moder- 

 ate. The Garrouste ghileems are well suited for curtain hangings. 

 Those of Lauristan and Zereud, near Teheran, are preferable for carpet- 

 ings, while the ghileeras of Kermaushah excel perhaps for the originality 

 and beauty of their patterns. 



The namads or felt carpets of Persia, although produced by a process 

 which perhaps excludes them from the list of strictly textile fabrics, 

 may yet properly be considered in this report. The namad is made by 

 forming a frame of the thickness intended or excavating a place jn the 

 ground floor of the size and depth equivalent to the namad intended. 

 The hair is laid in this and beaten with mallets until -the original dis- 

 jointed mass has obtained cohesion and is reduced to the dimensions of 

 the frame. A design of colored threads is beaten into the upper surface, 

 sometimes quite effective. The namad, however, is desirable less for its 

 beauty than the complete sense of comfort which it affords. It is much 

 thicker than other carpets, and the sensation to the tread is luxurious. 

 No carpet has ever been manufactured that is more suitable for the 

 comfort of a sleeping- room in winter. Of course there is a difference 

 in the quality of these namads, but the dearest are far cheaper than the 

 same surface of carpets or rugs woven in the usual style. The great 

 weight and clumsiness of the namads must unfortunately prevent their 

 exportation to any extent until the means of transport are improved. 

 The best quality of namad is made at Isfahan, but the most massive are 

 produced at Yezd. One would imagine that the size of the uamad must 

 necessarily be limited. But on the contrary the regular Persian carpets 

 rarely equal and never exceed the dimensions of some namads. The 

 namad is more often than the carpets intended to cover an entire floor, 

 elegant rugs being laid over it in places. I have seen a namad 75 feet 

 long by nearly 40 feet wide in one piece. 



There is one species of rug special to Persia often spoken of but rarely 

 seen. I refer to the rugs made of silk. It is not uncommon to see rugs 

 of the finer types with silken fringes and sometimes with a woof of silk 

 in the body of the rug. But all silk rugs are rare, and rarer now than 

 formerly. They are generally small and intended for luxury rathei than 



