The British Library and the Library of Congress: Review of Recent Activities

1989 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
Afghanistan ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-152
Author(s):  
Ula Zeir
Keyword(s):  

The practice of dispatching kharita had been part of the royal correspondence of Muslim rulers for centuries, particularly in Persia and India. Originating from Arabic, the term kharita refers to a pouch fabricated from leather or silk, or possibly other material. Although the dictionary definition applies to the pouch itself, the act of sending a kharita indicates that a royal letter is placed inside the pouch. Therefore, a kharita is the pouch and its contents. The article examines one particular kharita (Mss Eur F111/361, ff 2–5 at the British Library). The study identifies the elements that comprise the kharita item, and make it a piece of royal art.


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