Sistan Baluch Weaving
			In the last three years we have been able to acquire an unusual number of flatweaves which are described in Kabul as Sistan Baluch. Previously these had been quite rare in Afghanistan, although we had found similar bags and trappings in Baluchistan. The province of Iran joining south-west Afghanistan/Baluchistan is known as Sistan, but geographically the name Sistan refers to a basin incorporating parts of the three areas. The wars in Afghanistan have brought out many rare tribal rugs over the last 25 years, but it is probably severe drought that has caused the Sistan Baluch flatweaves to come on to the market. For many tribal people, their rugs represent their wealth, and they are only sold in time of need. Many of the kilims we've collected are very old. They have been used by the families only for weddings or other special occasions, and are often in very good condition. We describe these as "early C20", but they could be older. See Textiles of Baluchistan, by M.G. Konieczny, British Museum Publications, 1979, for examples of weavings and trappings. The book's perspective is from within the Pakistan province of Baluchistan, and unfortunately does not give a good overview of the origin of the weavings.
		Shearing a Camel
	For many years we were inclined to treat with suspicion assertions that carpets or kilims included camel wool in their structure. However camels do grow wool in winter and shed it as summer approaches. In the wool shedding season the Baluchis run their camels through an area of thorny trees and simply pluck the wool from the thorns. There is not a lot of wool, and it is never dyed. In the rugs the wool is soft - and camel coloured.

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