'Telegraph and travel. A narrative of the formation and development of telegraphic communication between England and India, under the orders of Her Majesty's Government, with incidental notices of the countries traversed by the lines.' [‎586] (627/782)

586 TELEGRAPH AND TRAVEL. [chap.
the chiefs of Bam and Banipur; but the Minister would not
recommend a march along the coast, where his control was
hardly recognized. Every now and then our energetic host
would rise from his seat and, more sua, not more Persico, bustle
about the room. He had things to show us ; and not caring to
have servants always about him, he fetched Ins own boxes,
opened them with his own hand, stooped to pick up any fallen
article—in short, proved himself a most agreeable rarity. Among
coins produced was an English dragon sovereign of George IV.,
stated to have come in with other gold and silver prizes as an
instalment on a robbery from M. The Wazir Minister. , or, as he is com
monly called, the 'Khan,' has abjured smoking; but snuffs like
a genuine snuffer. Return home to breakfast; and after break-
fast are escorted to the bazaar; a goodly collection of shops,
the new section of which is on a large and solid scale. Visit
two shawl karkhdnas (manufactories), and one for carpets. 1
1 Major Murdoch Smith says :—" In making the carpets, the threads (all
of one colour) forming the length of the web are stretched on an upright
loom consisting of two horizontal rollers. The cross coloured threads that
form the pattern are worked in by as many small boys as the breadth of the
web will allow to squat in front of the loom. As the work progresses, the
web is gradually rolled up on the lower roller. After every two or three
rows have been worked, wide-teethed combs are inserted in the wool, and
hammered down with a mallet, to keep the carpet close and firm. The
master-weaver draws and colours the designs on paper, ruled to represent the
different threads ; after which he teaches the pattern to the pupils, who
commit it to memory. The shawls are woven in a similar manner, almost
the only difference being that the looms, or rather frames, are horizontal
instead of upright. The memory of the workmen cannot possibly be assisted
by seeing the pattern develop itself, as they always work with the reverse
side of the web upwards. The hnrkhanahs, or workshops, in which the
weaving is carried on, are such low, dark, miserable rooms, that one cannot
but wonder that they should produce such beautiful manufactures. The
shawls vary in price from 5 to 50 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. (20/.), and fine carpets cost as much
as from 4 to 10 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. the square yard. Very few of the finer sort are made
for sale in the bazaars, almost all being made to order for grandees in all
parts of the kingdom. The spinning and dyeing of the wool for the carpets,
and the kurk for the shawls, are also carried on in Karman, which thus pro
duces the raw material and completes its manufacture." (" Official Keport to
the Director Indo-European Telegraph," dated Bombay, March 7, 18 /4,
par. 44.) Kvrk is the goat's fine, short wool nearest the skin. Precise!}