IIIF Color HighRes
National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
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| IIIF Color HighRes |
| Report of a Mission to Yarkund in 1873 : vol.1 |
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Citation Information
( 449 )
The price of labor is exceedingly cheap in the Khotan District, and the carpet makers are hired as required by those who are rich enough to purchase the materials and set up the frames.
There are two kinds of frames, standard, which are placed perpendicularly, and long flat frames near the ground ; the latter are usually required for very large carpets, but the standard frames allow of better work being done.
The size of the carpets ranges from the small saddle carpet on which one man works at a time to carpets 32 yards wide, uppn which 10 men are employed at one time. The pattern is given out by head of the party whom they term Aksakal. The patterns do not exist on paper, but are passed on from master to pupil and so remain from generation to generation. There are some 200 masters who are known for their carpet work.
It is to be noticed that in comparison with other parts of the country sheep are very abundant in the Khotan province, and that the wool is Khotan lamb skins of white color, form the linings of hats and posteens.
Men employed in carpet making under the Government receive 20 phools daily each man, and are not supplied with food ; in ordinary houses, the daily wages is 10 phools and food for the day.
The copper vessels made in Khotan are superior to all others prepared in the Amir's territory ; they are worked in a variety of patterns. There are about 30 shops at Khotan (Ilchi) where these are made. The copper, as previously stated, is obtained from Aksû.
Vessels for tea and for water are those principally made, the iron vessels from Russia being preferred as cooking utensils.
Patterns of various kinds are cut upon the Khotan copper work in very neat fashion.
Irron.—Iron work, stirrup irons, spoons, knife handles, &c., made of iron are inlaid with copper wire, which is usually of English manufacture and is obtained from Hindoostan; there are some 12 masters in this work at Khotan ; the pattern is cut out in the iron of the stirrup, spoon or whatever article it is intended to ornament, and the wire is run into the pattern and the whole heated in the fire.
Hides.—Cow hides are largely exported from Khotan to Yârkand with sheep skins and goat. This is due rather to the existence of a large number of cattle and sheep in the Khotan province than to superiority in the manner of preparation. Skins of animals obtained in the Kuen Luen are also exported for the lining of posteens.
Sandal-wood and tea (brick) are obtained from the buried cities. The sandal is worked into beads, and the tea is sold in the market. The buried cities proper are said to be at a distance of many marches to the east of Khotan. A discovery of buried ruins has, however, lately been made quite close to the city of Khotan (Ilchi) at a distance of about four miles to the north-west. A cultivator working in his field was watering his crop ; on the water suddenly disappearing into a hole and continuing to be absorbed, he dug up the place where the water disappeared and obtained a golden ornament said to have been a cow. Lately excavations have been ordered by the Dadkhwah and more gold has been found; the diggers are paid for any gold they may excavate at 110 tangas the ser. In the beginning of April 1874 a gold ornament of about eight sers weight was found by a man who had gone out in search of charcoal—this was in the shape of a small vase and had a chain attached to it. Rumour declared it to be neck ornament of the Great Afrasiab, and the finder was declared to have hit upon the spot where Afrasiab's treasure was buried; he was paid for the ornament at the rate of 100 tangas the ser, and a party was at once organized to search the neighbourhood. At present no fresh discovery has been made, and I cannot in any way fix the locality, but it is at no great distance from Khotan itself.
| PRICES. Cotton cloth, Kam, per than ( 7 yards X 2 yard) „ Tolma, „ ( 7 If „ )1 ) „ Chakman „ (22 „ X „ ) Kummerband (10 girras X 22 yards) ... | Tangas. Phool.s. 1 30 2 25 4 0 1 0 |
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