

A SCIENTIFIC MISSION TO CAMBODIA. 319 



times have it trimmed with silver or gold. It is put on by wrapping 

 around the loins and bringing the ends forward ; then, taking it by 

 its upper edge, at about half a yard from the body, the two handfuls 

 of cloth are twisted round each other, and it is tied with the same 

 kind of a knot as the Chinese and Annamites use to fasten their trou- 

 sers, while the parts of the ends beyond the knot hang down in front ; 

 then they are twisted up, passed between the legs, carried back and fast- 

 ened behind to the strip over the loins. The legs are thus enveloped 

 in a kind of wide breeches. This constitutes the whole of the Cam- 

 bodian's country costume. He is otherwise barefooted, bareheaded, 

 and barebacked. Richer men, however, wear under the sampot shoit 

 drawers of light, white goods ; and townspeople wear over it a belt 

 with a metallic plate, which they have adopted from the Siamese. 

 Another imported garment is the Siamese paletot, a coat fitting the 

 shape, opening and buttoning in front, and coming down to the hips. 

 The sleeves are straight and of the full length of the arms. The nobles 

 and mandarins have very recently adopted the European short-coat ; 

 and the dandies have borrowed a scarf which properly belongs to the 

 women. They usually wear it tied around the waist, while a few throw 

 it over the upper part of the body ; but this is a violation of the rites, 

 and those who commit it are cautious enough to let their scarf drop 

 when they see any high functionary of their race coming. The hair 

 is worn short behind and three or four inches long in front. It is 

 parted in the middle or at one side, and set off with a flower behind 

 the ears. "Women also wear the sampot arranged in the same fashion 

 as that of the men, but without the drawers, and of a different color 

 from the masculine garment, it being the woman's peculiar privilege 

 to wear green and rose color. Their scarf is usually of silk, and of 

 some striking color, different from that of the sampot, and is grace- 

 fully thrown over the body so as not so much to hide the breasts as to 

 give them support ; and the Cambodian woman is not at all concerned 

 if her breasts are fully exposed. Some women wear a kind of robe or 

 chemise with tight sleeves extending over the sampot to just above 

 the knees. They wear their hair short ; and this, with the likeness of 

 their dress to that of the men, and the men's smooth faces, makes it a 

 matter of no little tact to tell a man from a woman. 



Children of both sexes go nearly naked till they are about seven 

 years old. Their hair is the object of one of the most cherished cus- 

 toms of the Khmer people. At two years of age it is cut off, all ex- 

 cept a tuft on the top of the head, which is left to flow, or is tied up 

 or fastened with a pin till the youth reaches the age of puberty. It is 

 then cut off with a solemn ceremony, marked by rites which have come 

 down from antiquity, to witness which all of the family and the bonzes 

 are invited. In the royal family the occasion is honored by grand fes- 

 tivals, in which all the people participate. 



The Cambodian is an indefatigable walker, a good horseman, and 



