elegant
calligraphers of Nestalik script； afterward he’d cross great mountains till he’d
made it all the way to Bukhara where he’d arrange the picture’s position
and have the figures drawn by the great master painter who worked under the
Uzbek Khan； next he’d go down to Herat to mission one of its half…blind
old masters to paint from memory the sinuous curves of plants and leaves；
visiting another calligrapher in Herat； he’d direct him to inscribe； in gold Rika
script； the sign above a door within the picture； finally； he’d be off again to the
south； to Kain； where displaying the half…page he had finished during his six
months of traveling； he’d receive the praises of Sultan Ibrahim Mirza。
At this pace； it was clear that the book would never be pleted； so
mounted Tatar couriers were hired。 In addition to the manuscript leaf； which
was to receive artwork and scripted text； each horseman was given a letter
describing the desired work in question to the artist。 Thus； messengers
carrying manuscript pages passed over the roads of Persia； Khorasan； the Uzbek
territory and Transoxania。 The creation of the book sped up with the fleet
messengers。 At times； on a snowy night； Chapter 11 and 29； for example；
55
would cross paths in a caravansary wherein the howlings of wolves could be
heard； and as they struck up a friendly conversation； they’d discover that they
were working on the same book project and would try to determine between
themselves where and in which fable the prospective pages； retrieved from
their rooms for this purpose； actually bel