are symbols of royalty and divinity throughout the East, are magnificent examples of the grandest of the art crafts of India, and truly regal treasures. The art is practised everywhere in India, at Lucknow and Benares, at Multan and Lahore, and in Kangra and Cashmere, but nowhere in such perfection as at Jaipur. It is probably a Turanian art. It was introduced into China, according to the Chinese, by the Yeufcchi, and was carried as early, if not earlier into India. From Assyria it probably passed into Egypt, and through the Phoenicians to Europe. Sid on was as famed for its glass, as was Tyre renowned for its purple ; and the Sidonians were not only acquainted with glass-blowing, but also with the art of enamelling in glass in imitation of the precious stones. Glass was already known to the Hindus in the time of the Mahabharata, in which we read that at the raja-surya of Yudhis- thira, one of the royal pavilions was paved with “ black crystal,” which Duryodhana on entering mistook for water, and drew up his garments lest he should be wetted. Among the Prince of Wales’ several specimens of the charming Cashmere enamels, in which presents are the ground, of the usual shawl pattern ornamentation cut in gold, is filled in with turquoise blue. Sometimes a dark green is intermixed with the blue, perfectly harmonised by the gold, and producing a severely artistic effect Lady Wyatt possesses a remarkably fine goblet in this style of Cashmere enamel [Plate 37].
Among the many splendid loans contributed by the Queen to the India Museum is a Huka stand, the silver bowl [Plate 38], of which is painted with flowers in green and blue enamel. It is one of the finest specimens I know, of the best Mogol period of transparent enamelling.
At Pertabghar in Rajputana extremely effective and brilliant trinkets are made, apparently by melting a thick layer of green enamel on a plate of burnished gold, and, while it is still hot, covering it with thin gold cut into mythological, or hunting and other pleasure scenes ; in which, amid a delicate network of
