696 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 18f»3. 



of which is a steel. These are called me-clian (written me Icliags) and 

 are in common use all over Til >et, China, and Mongolia. The Chiuese style 

 of tinder pouch shown in Dr. Hooker's work (Himalayan Journals, ii, 

 p. 219) as existing- in Sikkim, has been found by other travelers in 

 Bhutan and even among the Abors and Mishmis. The Tibetan me-chag 

 is of two styles, the Dergc and Pomiid forms. The first is always 

 decorated with silver bosses, coral, and turquoise beads, and is of 

 either red cloth or leather. (pLO, fig. 2.) The Pomiid kind, as shown 

 in the specimen m the Museum collection, is a beautiful piece of work 

 iu open gold and silver, in which are set 3 large beads, 2 of coral, 

 and 1 of turquoise. The poucli is of red cloth, and is 5i inches long 

 and 2^ inches broad. An embroidered cloth case fits over it to protect 

 it from the weather (pi. 0, fig. 4) In pi. 0, fig. 3. and another specimen 

 not here illustrated* are me-chag of Mongol manufacture, and were prob- 

 ably made in eastern Mongolia among the Halhas, though the former is 

 Tibetan in its style of decoration. 



Another orimment sometimes worn in eastern Tibet by women is 

 shown in pi. 0, fig. 1. It consists of a toothpick, ear spoon, and tweez- 

 ers, the latter, however, being only used as a toothi)ick. It is attached 

 to the gown by a ring at the end of a silver chain; the implements 

 hang by a few links of chain to a half rupee surrounded by silver work, 

 in which are set coral and turquoise beads. 



A short knite is carried suspended from the belt of all Tibetans; 

 with it they cut their meat. The scabbard in some cases is highly 

 orminiented; especially is this the case with knives of Derge make (pi. 10 j. 



A finely-ornamented belt with knife, needlecase, and strike-alight, 

 belonging to the writer, and of Derge manufacture, is shown iu j)l. 10. 



The knife used in the Kokonor region is 0| inches long — the blade, 

 which is of iron, 5J. The handle is of horn, andiron and copper wires 

 are inlet into it ; the scabbard is of iron. These knives are made in two or 

 three localities along the Kokonor border by Chiuese blacksmiths. The 

 knives from Shang-wu-chuang (about 20 miles from Hsi-ning in Kan-su) 

 are especially prized, as are also the swords coming from the same 

 locality (see Diarj- of a Journey, etc., p. 104). The products of this 

 locality are recognizable by the damascening on the blades. The people 

 in this locality are a mixed Chinese-Turkish race, and this industry was 

 Ijrobabl}' brought here from Turkestan. 



In the more civilized portions of Tibet the Chinese knife and chop- 

 sticks are frequently used, the case often richly ornamented with 

 embossed silver, the handle of the knife and the ends of the chopsticks 

 being also covered with worked silver (pi. 11, right-hand figures). 



As a general rule Tibetans allow no hair to grow on their faces, but 

 pluck out the few" hairs growing on them as they appear with tweezers 

 [chyanintser), which they carry suspended around their neck or from their 



* Cat. No. 131023 U. S. N. M. 



