nimal's hair has not been properly washed. Nothing but a thorough
cleansing on the back as well as on the surface, with soap and hot water
seems to be effective in carrying it away, although certain atmospheric
changes affect it. A damp, wet day brings out the odor strongly.
Fortunately this disturbing element is not in all Afghan rugs. There is
a great deal of force and strength exhibited in these rugs, and a
richness most attractive in the finest specimens. A color plate in this
volume, with its accompanying description, explains the typical
Afghanistan rug.

BELUCHISTAN RUGS

Beluchistan rugs bear the marks of nomadic workmanship. They show that
they are woven by tribes who combine strength and skill. The designs are
generally geometric, and bold in effect. The rugs have rich dull tones
of blue, red, and often with markings of white or ivory on a foundation
of dark brown, in fact so dark sometimes as to give the appearance of
black. This is accounted for partly by the great abundance of goat's
hair and camel's hair woven into it, which is sometimes dyed even darker
than the natural color. There is a fine lustre in this rug, and it is
one of the hardiest and most durable of all the Oriental rugs. The wool
used is soft and the pile left rather long, which accounts in part for
the rug being so thick and heavy. Occasionally we find a beautiful old
prayer rug in brown tones, and with corner areas in fine dull reds and a
wonderful deep rich blue.

Some of the finest specimens are occasionally sold as blue Bokharas; and
people who imagine that they have purchased one of the latter are likely
to find themselves the possessors of a good Beluch, for there is no such
thing as a blue Bokhara.

CENTRAL ASIA

TURKOMAN RUGS

Turkoman rugs are woven by nomad tribes living in Central Asia. The
tribes are known as the Ersari Goklan, Sarik, Tekke, and Yomud, and most
of these rugs have some points in common, although they vary a good deal
in detail. Generally speaking, the Turkoman takes the greatest care to
have his work perfectly done. In order to give fixity to the color the
dyer steeps the wool in a mordant of alum and water. The dye is almost
invariably brought from Bokhara. At Ashkabad the Turkomans dye the wool
themselves when it is intended to be yellow, but when any other shade is
desired it is sent to the city to be dyed. Camel's hair is largely used
in the rug-weaving of Central Asia. The camel itself is carefully