SUNGPAN TING 147 



about their person a wooden, often silver-lined, eating bowl 

 is also carried. The wealthy prize a leopard skin garment 

 most highly. 



The young girls are occasionally passing fair to look upon, 

 but from hard work and exposure lose all charm of youth very 

 early. The women are generally flat-faced, very dirty, and 

 far from prepossessing. They have, however, considerable 

 character and an important voice in household and all business 

 matters. Toward foreigners they are timid, but amongst 

 themselves their manners are playful, free and easy, and they 

 laugh and sing at their work. Their outer dress consists of one 

 shapeless piece of serge, which envelops them down to their 

 ankles. Sometimes this is grey, more usually it is blue in 

 colour, with a fancy bordering of dark red or yellow in front and 

 around the bottom. High boots of untanned leather encase 

 their feet and lower legs. Their hair is long and black, worn 

 parted in the middle and collected into one large plait behind ; 

 around the forehead it is worn in a series of tiny plaits orna- 

 mented with coral-beads, amber-coloured stones, and small 

 shells. The large plait is usually wound around the head, 

 together with a piece of cloth to form a kind of padded turban, 

 the whole being decorated with shells and beads. Occasionally 

 saucer-shaped felt hats are worn. In holiday attire, silver rings 

 and gaudy red and yellow tassels are added to their coiffure. 

 They are very fond of silver rings, bracelets, and large ear-rings 

 ornamented with beads of turquoise and coral. In gala costume 

 the dress is decidedly picturesque. 



The men assist in tilling the soil, and in sowing and harvesting 

 the crops, but the women do the bulk of the work around the 

 homestead, the men being away her ding the flocks or on journeys. 

 Though they lead hard hves they seem a happy and contented 

 people in spite of the fact that they are almost without exception 

 afflicted with goitre. Their houses are built of wood and shale- 

 rocks, being either one-storied, flat-roofed, with or without a 

 raised part behind, or, as is more usual, two-storied and 

 similarly roofed. They count their wealth in head of cattle, 

 horses, and sheep. Wheat, barley, and peas are the staple 

 crops. Meat, butter, and milk enter very largely into their diet. 

 Buttered tea is generally drunk, but they are very partial to 



