Page:History of Art in Persia.djvu/428

 Themes and their Situations. 407 and which we met at Boghaz Kcui, in Asia Minor* The feet are sometimes sandalled, sometimes defended by buskins. Greater variety is observable in the objects which the delegates bring to the monarch — stuffs in bunchy folds ; perhaps furs ; tapes- tries; housings broidered with silver and gold thread, similar to those worked at present in all Eastern bazaars ; costly vases filled with rare perfumes ; personal ornaments, such as massive bracelets, Fio. 195.— PtnepoUs. Indian bumped ox. Flanoin and Costs, Par$tait<itmiet Plate CV. chains, arms, and battle-axes. As to the large balls held in each hand by two of the figures, it is not easy to offer an opinion. Are they gold melted down into round shapes, or exotic fruits prized for their exquisite flavour ? Ec^ually mysterious are scales carried by some of the men (I'ig. 193)- Were they intended to weigh the metal before the king, bars or huge rings easy of transport, paid in as tribute ? If the groups in the upper lin(* of figures were not so terribly defaced, we should doubtless find among them great variety in the matter of dress, weapons, and offerings. The lacuna, however, can > ITist. of Art, torn. iv. pp. 633, 738, Plate VIII. Digitized by Gopgle