THE ART SECTION. 
41 
€laim to it either as offering a fuller illustration of the craft, 
or as filling a gap in the sequence of the arrangement. By 
these various means it is believed that this section represents 
something approaching a systematic survey of the arts of 
India, and should form a means of instruction to all classes 
of people. 
A brief description of the principal objects in some of 
the more important classes may now be outlined. The main 
class which first meets the eye on entering the court is that 
of Textiles. These occupy the cases in the whole of the 
northern half of the principal gallery, the subdivision of 
fabrics decorated in the loom being exhibited on one side, 
while those subsequently treated lie on the other. We may 
take up the latter subdivision first, as it is well represented 
in the entire series of frames on our right. Broadly, this 
particular division resolves itself into wax cloth and wax 
printing, tie-dyeing and cotton printing, and every form of 
embroidery. Some of the most interesting of these may be 
referred to in detail. 
The dexterous manipulation of his crude tools and mate¬ 
rials by the Peshawari in the production of what is commonly 
known as Afridi wax cloth” is remarkable, and no des¬ 
cription can convey his wonderful sleight of hand when 
wielding the iron style and treacly rogan, or mixture, to ob¬ 
tain his effects. But many good examples of his work dis¬ 
played in the first frame on the right will show what artistic 
results this Frontier artist can achieve. 
Near to these Afridi wax-cloth specimens, several other 
artistic industries are represented in which the use of wax 
plays an important part in their production. Probably one 
of the most interesting of these is that in which the pattern 
is obtained by stopping out different portions of the design 
by means of a wax resist. The process is too complicated 
for description, but the specimen shown from Masulipatam 
will indicate what rich and elaborate effects may be obtained 
in this manner. The art is essentially one of Southern India, 
but it is nowhere carried to such a degree of excellence as in 
the distant island of Java. History is still vague as to 
whether the early Javanese were emigrants from Southern 
