specimens of their industry to the Great Exhibition.

[Illustration]

Why, who would have thought of seeing Persian and Egyptian
contributions at the Exhibition?

And such splendid articles as they are! Persia, you know, is a rich
and fertile country, near Russia, in Asia; but although it has many
beautiful flowers and fruits, yet is there very little timber; owing
to which they have no shipping. The Persians delight in fine clothes
on which they lavish the greater part of their money, and they are
fonder of scarlet, or crimson, than of any other colour. They are very
skilful in dyeing, in making silks, shagreen, morocco, gold and silver
ornaments; and they form excellent swords and weapons. Their commerce
with Turkey, China, Arabia, and other places, is carried on by means
of what they call "caravans," which are large companies of merchants,
who travel together for the sake of security from thieves, by whom
however, they are often robbed; these companies have frequently more
than a thousand camels, to carry their luggage and their goods; and in
consequence of the excessive heat, they are obliged to journey mostly
in the early morning, and rest during the day. The Persians live
chiefly on rice, fruit, and coffee, and eat very little meat; they
luxuriate in baths, and the poorest amongst them endeavour to have a
horse. They use the Turkish language, and are nearly all Mahometans;
they used to worship the sun and fire, though very few continue to do
so still. The Persian ladies never appear in the streets or any other
public place, without having long veils, in order to conceal their
faces, as the Turkish ladies do. The Persians are very like the Turks
in their manners and customs, which I described to you before.