The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-07-19

to France and Russia. Most all the silk fab
RIGS are manufactured in Persia, and although
inferior in gloss and finish, are strong il
texture and brilliant in color
The Persians have always manifested high
capacity for works Of art The productions
of the country in metal, ornamental carpen.
try and decorative furniture, are of remarkable
excellence and beauty. The glazed tiles,
which are 80 conspicuous in the houses of the
wealthy, were long peculiar to Persia. They
are used to decorate the interior walls Of the
apartments which, panelled in various colors
and patterns in arabesque, intermixed with
flowers in mosaic, are exceedingly beautiful.
The celebrated palace of Tamerlane at Sam
arcand, of which the Persian vemndah tow
cred above the rest of the building in the
form of half dome or alcove, was richly
decorated with these tiles in gold and blue,
and must have given it a most gorgeous ap-
pearance.
OF the textile manufactures Of Persia the
most important is that Of carpets, which pos
sess a durability and richness of coloring
which are unrivalled The colors are perma-
nent and great ingenuity and taste are dis
played in the patterns. Each side of Persian
carpet lis equally presentable. If piece of
red-hOt charcoal is placed upon one of the
finest quality it will be singed and marked
with brown spot, but when it is brushed not
the slightest trace Of the spot remains. This
is said to be the test of a good carpet. Large
numbers are made in the villages by the women
and children.
Mohammed forbade his followers to make
the likeness Of living things, but the Persian
artists do not consider that this prohibition
refers to pictures, and the Persian palaces are
adorned with frescoes generally representing
scenes of court life. They do not, however,
understand perspective, and their skill in the
use of colors is not therefore seen to the best
advantage. Some of the Kdlmdams or pen
cases made Of papier D.Nche are often exqui-
sitely ornamented with miniature painting.
Small articles are also made of wooden mo-
sale work or marquetry, but it is in enamel
ling that the Persian artificer displays the
most artistic taste
The mineral wealth of Persia has, up to
the present time, remained almost entirely un-
developed. Copper iron and coal abound, and
the probable influx of European artisans in
connection with Baron Reuters concession.
will doubtless lead to the working of these
mineral deposits. The famous turquoise
mines in the province OF Khorasan the only
mines from which these stones are at present
obtained have been worked for centuries, and
are still productive
The ShiraZ wine has a wide reputation, and
the wine of Tspahan is said to be but little in
ferior. The Persian nobility, however, prefer
European wines to their own and it is said |
that even Persian ladies' of high rank, occa-
slonally get ''muddled' by excessive rotations |
The Persian army consists of about so, 600 |
irregular cavalry, some artillery, and about |
SO, 600 infantry. The physique Of the latter is |
'aid to be good, they march well, and are very
orderly lin their conduct No irregular troops. |
whether koords, Arabs, Affghans, or Turko- |
mans, says Col. Shiel, who was lately employed
N organizing the Persian army, can contend
with the disciplined forces of Persia.
Extensive as the Shah's dominions are, his |
'evenue is probably less than that Of the small
Est State OF Europe, and this fact explains
he otherwise unaccountable transfer by the
present Sovereign of the customs revenues of
he State to Baron Reuter- in exchange for GER
ain specified obligations
The first introduction of new ideas into an
Asiatic State is always pregnant either with
,ood or with evil, but the willing reception Of
european axioms and the guidance of enlight-
med men may give such an impulse to the
ocial, economical and political life of the
'eople as will lead to combination of all that
$ worth preserving in the old civilization with
IL that is elevating in the new Condensed
rom an article in tie British Q.arte,iy- Re,ie,c
Or AprI