170 DR. HOOKER'S MISSION TO INDIA. 
Ayrshire kine. The stock is peculiar, differing from that of Nepal and 
of the plains. The milk and butter they afford is good. Except 
bamboo, they get no grass, but browse on the leaves of the forest. 
A group of Lepchas is exceedingly picturesque. They are of short 
stature—four feet eight inches to five feet—rather broad in the chest, 
and with muscular arms, but small hands and slender wrists. The 
face is broad, flat, and of eminently Tartar character, flat-nosed and 
oblique-eyed, a sallow complexion, or often a clear olive, no beard, and 
little moustache ; the hair is collected into an immense tail, plaited flat 
or round. The lower limbs are powerfully developed, befitting genuine 
mountaineers: the feet are small. Though never really handsome, 
and very womanish in the cast of countenance, they have invariably a 
mild, frank, and even engaging expression, which I have in vain sought 
to analyze, and which is perhaps more due to the absence of anything 
unpleasing, than the presence of direct grace or beauty. In like 
manner, the girls are often very engaging to look upon, though with- 
out one good feature; they are all smiles and good-nature; and the 
children are frank, lively, laughing urchins. The old women are thorough 
hags. Indolence, when left to themselves, is the Lepchas' besetting 
sin; they detest any fixed employment, and their foulness of person 
and garments renders them disagreeable inmates of a house: in this 
rainy climate they are supportable out of doors. Though fond of 
bathing when they come to a stream in hot weather, and expert, even 
admirable swimmers, these people never take to the water for the pur- 
poses of ablution. In disposition they are amiable and obliging, frank, 
humorous, and polite, without the servility of the Hindoo; and their 
address is free and unrestrained. -Their intercourse with one another 
and with Europeans is scrupulously honest; a present is divided 
equally amongst many without a syllable of discontent, or grudging 
look or word: each, on receiving his share, comes up and gives you a 
brusque bow and thanks. Already they havelearnt to overcharge, and 
use extortion in dealing, as is the custom with the people of the plains ; 
but it is clumsily done, and never aecompanied with the grasping air and 
‘insufferable whine of the latter. Though constantly armed with the 
long knife, they have never been known to draw it on one another: 
family and political feuds are alike unheard of amongst them. In morals 
the Lepcha is “ integer vitæ scelerisque purus," thus differing widely 
= from the vices of the neighbouring people, especially the natives of 
