ii6 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY, 



At night, before lying down to rest, they take off their boots and 

 belt, and with these make a pillow. They then judge their distance 

 from the " pillow," and kick that part of their robe (now trailing on 

 the ground after removing the belt) which they intend to lie on toward 

 the "pillow" ; thus by a kick converting one side of their Tchru ha 

 into a mattress, and by this arrangement leaving themselves still the 

 other side of the robe to act as a complete bed-covering on lying down ; 

 and all without undressing. Only the rich indulge in a carpet to sleep 

 on, and rich people sometimes use a Chinese carpet. The above sys- 

 tim of bed-making is almost universally practiced throughout Thibet, 

 or at all events throughout Eastern Thibet. 



Women often wear the above costume, but it is not their proper 

 dress, which is as follows : a kilted petticoat of woolen stuff, some- 

 times considerably decorated in colors with flowers, is so worn as to 

 fall to about the ankles. In putting it on they commence on the left 

 hip, pass it round the body once, and again across the front, thus hav- 

 ing a double thickness in front ; they fasten it on the right hip. This 

 petticoat is made up of many narrow strips each a few inches wide, 

 these being sewed together and kilted in such a manner as to have the 

 pleats only down the sides, being quite plain both front and back. 

 For a waist-band it has a strong strip of long-cloth sewed to its inner 

 side. Attached to this waist-band is a sleeveless bodice, generally of 

 cotton cloth, which is supported by bands over the shoulders, and this 

 garment carries the weight of the petticoat. The bodice is doubled 

 across the chest and tied on the right side at the neck, under the right 

 arm and again lower down. They also wear a sash or cummerhand 

 some six inches in width and about ten feet long, with the ends falling 

 loose from under the belt on the right side. This is the ordinary fe- 

 male attire, but, when they wish to dress better, they wear a sleeved 

 chemise under the bodice ; this, however, is very rarely worn at home 

 in their houses or at work. On state occasions they wear a jacket 

 with longer sleeves and longer body than the Chinese ma quoi, or quen 

 shen tze, but something like it. This jacket is of silk or cotton or 

 woolen cloth, etc., and falls to about half-way down the thighs. The 

 sleeves descend some seven inches lower than the tips of the fingers, 

 and are very full, though not so much so as the ma quoi. From the 

 wrist to the ends of the sleeves the color is always different and of a 

 more vivid and striking nature (sometimes red, green, etc.) than the 

 stuff or material of the main portion. The collar is nearly always of 

 red broadcloth, and is fastened by a large silver and coral brooch on 

 the chest. The jacket is closed down the right side with galloons or 

 braids of mixed and pronounced colors. They wear boots like those 

 of the men, the tops being of woolen or colored cotton material, and 

 the soles of leather. They very seldom wear any kind of hat. The 

 coiffure varies much. Their ornaments are generally of silver (very 

 rarely of gold) and precious stones, but chiefly of coral. The stones 



