664 



EXPLORATIONS IN MONGOLIA AND TIBET. 



wMcli the local magistrates go outside the east gate of the city to 

 ''welcome spring" {ylng-cKun). A huge cow made of wicker-work 

 and coated over witli mud was dragged along by scores of men, and fol- 

 lowing it was the image of the god T'ai-sui. A man disgufsed as a 

 woman led the procession on foot and folio sving him was another, in 

 like disguise, riding a donkey. This one impersonated, I was told, the 

 princess who introduced into China the practice of comj)ressing women's 

 feet. Tlie cow was painted of a reddish brown color, a ]iortent that con- 



FiG. 3. — Kokonor Tibetan pouy (Konsa stock). Tibetan mastitf (Pauaka slock). 



flagrations would take place in the year now beginning, for the colors 

 used on this occasion are symbolical, — yellow means ijlentiful crops; 

 white, floods; black, sickness; and blue, war. In like manner, if the 

 image of T'ai-sui is bare-headed it is symbolical of heat; with his cap 

 on, of cold; if he Wears shoes it portends much rain and if he is bare- 

 footed, dry weather.* 



* See G. Carter Stent, " Chinese and English V/)cabulary," p. 714. 



