268 Mr St John on the Mongols. 



pensed with. Their dwellings are mostly very small, though 

 those of the rich are comparatively spacious ; and in some in- 

 stances several tents are joined together, so as to resemble the 

 various apartments of one house. These ghers. as they them- 

 selves confess, are often inadequate to protect them from the 

 cold, so that the little children are sometimes completely 

 wrapped in furs and skins. 



The dress of the Mongols generally is in summer a long 

 robe made of nankeen (like their shirts and other under gar- 

 ments), or coloured silk and satin, generally dark blue. Their 

 cloth cloaks are usually black or red, with yellow button-holes. 

 A leathern girdle, fastened with silver or copper buckles, 

 serves to hold a knife, flint, and steel. Their silk caps are 

 round, and trimmed with black plush ; three long red rib- 

 bons hang down behind as ornaments, and produce a very 

 beautiful eifect, as they wave and flutter in the wind. Their 

 thick-soled boots are made of leather. In winter they are 

 protected from the inclemencies of the season by long pelisses 

 of sheep skin, and caps trimmed with the same material, or 

 the fur of sables, foxes, or marmots. 



The women dress in many respects like their husbands. 

 The old travellers assert that they could see no difference. 

 But at present, if there be not much distinction in form, the 

 female costume is remarkable for its superior richness. The 

 robes of the wealthy are often of the most beautiful blue satin, 

 their caps of sable, their silken zones interwoven with silver, 

 and studded with large carnelians. Even the saddles of their 

 horses are covered with these precious stones. They divide 

 their hair into two tresses, which fall on the breast, and are 

 adorned at the extremities with small pieces of silver, coral, 

 pearls, and precious stones of diff'erent colours. Coral is much 

 prized in Mongolia, and is very dear. 



The Mongol bridles, saddle, and harness, are often orna- 

 mented with copper, rarely with silver. Bows and arrows, 

 with a short sword, are the favourite arms of the country, as 

 they have always been among pastoral nations. We may sup- 

 pose that the custom which prevailed anciently in China, of 

 hanging up a bow and arrow before the door of a house at the 



