IIIF Color HighRes
National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
| |||||||||
|
| IIIF Color HighRes |
| The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Citation Information
.
...
s
•
~
)11
96 MARCO POLO BOOK I,
~
•
Indian article. (Miiller's Ctesias, p. 8o ; Curtius, IX. 24 ; ilfiiller's Geoff . Gr. Min. I. 262 ; Digest. Novum, Lugd. 1551, Lib. XXXIX. Tit. 4 ; Salinas. Ex. Plimian. II. 763 ; Edrisi, I. 65-66 ; .J. R. S. A. A. 387 seyq. ; Hamasae Carmina, I. 526 ; Elliot, II. 209, 394 ; Reynolds's Utbi, p. 216.)
NOTE 4.—Paulus Jovius in the 16th century says, I know not on what authority, that Kermán was then celebrated for the fine temper of its steel in scimitars and lance-points. These were eagerly bought at high prices by the Turks, and their quality was such that one blow of a Kermán sabre would cleave an European helmet without turning the edge. And I see that the phrase, " Kermání blade " is used in poetry by Marco's contemporary Amír Khusrú of Delhi. (P. Joy. Hest. of his own Time, Bk. XIV. ; Elliot, III. 537.)
There is, or was in Pottinger's time, still a great manufacture of matchlocks at Kerman ; but rose-water, shawls, and carpets are the staples of the place now. Polo says nothing that points to shawl-making, but it would seem from Edrisi that some such manufacture already existed in the adjoining district of Bamm. It is possible that the " hangings " spoken of by Polo may refer to the carpets. I have seen a genuine Kermán carpet in the house of my friend, Sir Bartle Frere. It is of very short pile, very even and dense ; the design, a combination of vases, birds, and floral tracery, closely resembling the illuminated frontispiece of some Persian MSS.
The shawls are inferior to those of Kashmir in exquisite softness, but scarcely in delicacy of texture and beauty of design. In 1850, their highest quality did not exceed 3o tomans (141.) in price. About 2200 looms were employed on the fabric. A good deal of Kermán wool called Kurk, goes vice Bandar Abbási and Karáchi to Amritsar, where it is mixed with the genuine Tibetan wool in the shawl manufacture. Several of the articles named in the text, including pardahs (" cortines ") are woven in shawl-fabric. I scarcely think, however, that Marco would have confounded woven shawl with needle embroidery. And Mr. Khanikoff states that the silk embroidery, of which Marco speaks, is still performed with great skill and beauty at Kermán. Our cut illustrates the textures figured with animals, already noticed at p. 66.
The Guebers were numerous here at the end of last century, but they are rapidly disappearing now. The Musulman of Kermán is, according to Khanikoff, an epicurean gentleman, and even in regard to wine, which is strong and plentiful, his divines are liberal. " In other parts of Persia you find the scribblings on the walls of Serais to consist of philosophical axioms, texts from the Koran, or abuse of local authorities. From hermán to Yezd you find only rhymes in praise of fair ladies or good wine."
(Pottinger's Travels ; Khanik. 11l6'm. 186 sell., and Notice, p. 21 ; Major Smith's Report ; Abbott's MS.. Report in V. O. ; Notes by Major O. St. John, R. E.)
NOTE 5. —Parez is famous for its falcons still, and so are the districts of Aktár and Sírján. Both Mr. Abbott and Major Smith were entertained with hawking by Persian hosts in this neighbourhood. The late Sir O. St. John identifies the bird described as the Sháhín (Falco Peregrinator), one variety of which, the Fársi, is abundant in the higher mountains of S. Persia. It is now little used in that region, the Terlán or goshawk being most valued, but a few are caught and sent for sale to the Arabs of Oman. (J. R. G. S. XXV. 5o, 63, and Major St. John's Notes.)
E" The fine falcons, ` with red breasts and swift of flight,' come from Páríz. They are, however, very scarce, two or three only being caught every year. A well-trained Páríz falcon costs from 3o to 5o tomans (121. to 201.), as much as a good horse." (Houtum-Schindler, l.c. p. 491.) Major Sykes, Persia, ch. xxiii., writes : " Marco Polo was evidently a keen sportsman, and his description of the Slzáhin, as it is termed, cannot be improved upon." Major Sykes has a list given him by a Khán of seven hawks of the province, all black and white, except the Slzáhin, which has yellow eyes, and is the third in the order of size. —H. C.]
Note 6.—We defer geographical remarks till the traveller reaches Hormuz.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright (C) 2003-2019 National Institute of Informatics and The Toyo Bunko. All Rights Reserved.