The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-10-02
ltug-Maklng at AIlHapore.

Tho name has doubtless become FAM
liar TO all Americans within the past
few years III connection with its great
rug and carpet industries, and there
are not few of our homes inwhich this
serYiceable and beautiful branch Of
house-furnishing has been at all fol-
lowed where the MirZapore rug is not
highly priced and justly valued. The
town is beautifully situated on the
south bank of the Ganges, in the PROV
lnce OF Allahabad, but thirty miles be-
low the ancient city of Benares, and is
directly approached from Calcutta by
a journey Of three hundred and fifty
miles on the trunk line of the great
East Indian Railway. Prior to the
period Of the mutiny, when the vast
Internal commerce of the empire was
confined to its rivers, and the accumu.
lated products of its rich and varied
soil sought by Natures course
its markets on the bosom Of the
Ganges, Mirzapore was one of the lar
gest inland trading towns Of Hindus-
tan, great indigo and cotton depot,
and the residence of a considerable
colony "a opulent European merchants
and traders; but the advent Of railroads
has changed it's character, and It's OK
tended reach Oh the Ganges' bank, once
the busy scene Of commercial strife, is
almost deserted, and in It's stead clus-
ters Of native haDitations and inferior
lIndoo temples are seen among the
growing trees. a few Of the other
European residents-indigo growers,
whose plantations lie in the surround
ing district-retain their early residen-
ces or town bungalows and dispense
their proyerbialhospitality to the urav.
eler; but with u single exception-that
Of Mr.. Bernhardt Howard, tho father
of the MirZapore carpet industry,
which he has fostered for thirty years
the European mercantile class is un-
represented. The truly Oriental beauty
and perfect quality of the rugs, 50
much sought for and 50 highly valued
in tho European and American mar
kets, are almost entirely duo to the
quiet energy, correct taste and knowl-
edge Of Oriental design of this gentle
man. 70 a person of taste, or the love
OF Eastern art, what can appear more
glaringly absurd or painful than cold ,
Stiff English pattern in Il rug, proml-
nently offensive, and spelling at the
same time it's wealth of Oriental color?
arc thus ruined; yet what u number are
seen about us the result Of careless
purchase or indifferent taste.
In the dirty mud huts Of the villagers
it is most interesting to observe the
slow yet regular growth of the beautiful
patterns as developed by the busy, un-
firing hands of a dozen or more half
naked natives, and which the visitor
traces in imagination to their future
display i'll the attractive windows Of
Regent Street or Broadway, and event
ually to the chambers of Western
homes. AS the native quarter of the
city is approached the busy wool-car-
ders, the spinning Of the native wom-
en-, the labyrinth Of dye pots, the dye.
ing yarns Of various cOlors in the sun
light, bespeal the industry of tho place.
Tho huts, Of common structure and
one material, mud, contain but one
apartment. Sunk in the mud to q
depth OF two or three feet is u longer
roller of wood, perhaps six inches in
diameter and three or four yards in
length, supported at either end by iron