EGYPT AM) BRITISH INDIA. 319 



EGYPT. 



REPORT />')- VONSUL-ffENERAJt SOHUYLER, OF CAIRO. 



There is little to be said about the carpet trade of Egypt. In certain 

 parts of the country a few carpets of coarse quality are still made in 

 private houses. A few years ago there existed a manufactory in Boulak, 

 one of the suburbs of Cairo, but this has been closed. 



Cairo is still one of the headquarters for the sale of carpets, Eastern 

 make, whether imported here for the purpose of catching the eye of 

 the traveler, or whether coming from stores already accumulated, or 

 the possessions of rich houses. 



In the year 1888 there were imported into Egypt 24,546 carpets and 

 rugs, worth $110,485, of which 21,802, worth $107,055, came from Alge- 

 ria, Morocco, India. Persia, and Turkey; the small remainder from 

 Europe. In 1888 there were also imported 186,5sO yards of carpeting, 

 worth $76,685, chiefly from England. 



In the same year there were exported from Egypt 1,020 carpets and 

 rugs, worth $8,065, and there were re-exported 6,377 rugs and carpets, 

 worth $25,600. 



EUGENE SCHUYLER, 



Consul- General. 



UNITED STATES CONSULATE-GENERAL, 



Cairo, October 19, 1889. 



BRITISH INDIA. 



REPORT BY CONSUL-GENERAL BONHAM, OF CALCUTTA. 



There are no mills or factories proper in British India where carpets 

 are manufactured as in Europe, and the only industry of that kind in 

 this country is carried on by the natives with the aid of very rude and 

 primitive hand looms, which have been in vogue from time immemorial. 



Some very fine rugs and center pieces are manufactured in this way 

 in different parts of India, some small consignments of which are occa- 

 sionally shipped to the United States. 



It is really wonderful that such fine work can be produced with such 

 simple appliances ; but the modus operandi is more like knitting or 

 crochet work than weaving, and serves to illustrate the patience and 

 artistic skill of these peculiar people. 



B. F. BONHAM, 



Consul- General. 



UNITED STATES CONSULATE-GENERAL, 



Calcutta, July 26, 1889. 



