REMARKABLE RUGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 17, 20 January 1905, Page 2

REMARKABLE RUGS.

A rug which took seventy lives in the making is owned liy aa lowa Indian living in Stroud, Oklahoma. It is one hundred and fifty years old, and consists of seveutysevea scalps torn from the heads of as many human beings. The iug, which is barely five feet square, Iβ of many hues?, for the scalps are red, gray, black, white, brown, and auburn. They belonged to peaceful people, too, and are said to have been taken by special command of the Great Spirit from the finest specimens of men, women and children belonging to the white, red, and negro races. At soon as the scalps were secured they were sewn together, and the rug waa from that regarded as the remedy for all trouble. When an Indian was taken sick he wa.s laid on this;rug, and if he did not recover Ills spirit was assured of a pleasant journey to the happy hunting ground. This rem.iriuble creation can be seen but once a year. At the annual wild onion feast, which comes on April 1, the lowa Indians make the rug play an important part. The onion Is freely used, the Indians saturating themselves from 'head to foot with the juice. This was their successful way of driving away the evil spirits.

A prayer rug belonging to the Shah of Persia is another valuable mnt. Though barely two feet square, its design i 3 moat el&horate. It is worked throughout in precious stones, and the effect is dazzling. The ground Js formed p| rose diamond?, and to the centre is a large bird, whose neck is made of amethysts and its body of rubies. The vines, which form a network, through which the bii-d may be seen as through » cage, are made of emeralds, while the bands which connect the stones are of seed pearls. The floral emblem, of Pevsia is worked out in bine, yellow, and pink stones, this design being known as the Mlua Khani design. It i 8 difficult to determine even tee approximate value of this small rug, but it has beeu estimated that if it were sold the proceeds, placed at five per cent, interest, would bring in aij income of at least £50,000 per annum.