746 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1893. 



MISCELLANEOUS OBJECTS FROM THE CHINESE BORDER LANDS. 



lu fig, 1 of pi. 52 is shown a sboe made of oxliide and in sliape some- 

 what like an Indian moccasin. The sole is turned up all round the 

 vamp, which latter has a tongue coming over the instep. These shoes, 

 called p'i-hai in Chinese, are worn in the extreme western part of Kan-su 

 by the poorer classes. 



Inside these shoes coarse woolen socks, tnit of sheep's wool, are 

 worn (tig. 2). These socks are invariably knit by the men. It is, by 

 the way, no uncommon thing in Mohammedan countries for the men to 

 knit. I have noticed it in Algeria, and Friar Odoric, speaking of the 

 people of Huz in Khuzistan (Persia), remarks of them "and 'tis the 

 custom for the men to knit and spin, and not the women." (H, Yule, 

 Cathay and the way thither, i, ^. 53.) 



Sandals made of hemp (figs. 3 and 4) are known as ma hai in western 

 Kan-su where they are made and worn. They closely resemble the 

 Ssu-ch'uanese sandal (tigs. 5 and 6), woven of rice straw over hem])en 

 cords, with some slight difference in the width of the piece in front to 

 protect the great toe. The Kan-su sandal is in all respects like the 

 Korean one. In all these sandals a string ])asses through loops fast- 

 ened to the sole and heel and is tied around the ankle. 



In western Ssu-ch'uau, where these sandals are the only foot gear 

 worn by hill porters, iron clamjis or crampons, consisting in an oval 

 plate of iron with four short fiat i)oints on them, are tied to the middle 

 €f the foot when the ground is wet or slippery. 



'The collection contains a brass saucepan 9 inches in diameter, the 

 back and handle beaten out of the same piece. It is used by Mongol 

 and Chinese traders when traveling, not only as a pan but as a ladle. 



A copper tea-kettle with top fitting closely in it is also in the collec- 

 tion. It is egg-shaped, with a rude handle, and is without a spout. It 

 is manufactured by the Chinese of Hsi-ning and Tankar in western 

 Kan-su for the Tibetans and Mongols of the Kokonor. 



A wooden pail in the collection, made of numerous wooden staves 

 held together by three brass hoops, is from the Ordos Mongols. It has 

 a brass ear and ring on each side and through this passes a yak hair 

 handle. It is a little larger at the bottom than at the top. Such pails 

 are very much valued by these Mongols, and the handles are frequently 

 decorated with cowrie shells or beads. 



In the collection is a fine blanket of mixed goat hair and sheep's 

 wool dyed a clear brown color. It is made of four strips, each IS inches 

 wide. Such blankets are woven by the border Chinese for travelers 

 and are practically waterproof. This one was bought in Kuei-hua 

 Ch'eng (eastern Mongolia). 



Fig. 15 of pi. 5 represents a breast ornament worn by Mongol women. 

 It is in the shape of two of the eight signs of good luck, "the fishes," 

 and the "chest-mark'' (or "intestines," as the Chinese call them). It 



