THE CHIARUNG TRIBES 165 



around the legs and waist to form a " cradle." When ah is 

 properly secured the person throws one arm over the top of 

 the runner, gives a slight spring, and ghdes down the inclined 

 cable at increasing speed. The impetus obtained in the down- 

 ward rush carries the passenger over the central dip and more 

 or less up the lesser incline on the opposite side. If the 

 momentum is insufficient to land the person, the remaining 

 distance has to be traversed by taking hold of the hawser and 

 hauling hand over hand. Crossing these bridges is fearsome work 

 until one is accustomed to it. It is speedily accomplished, and 

 there is practically no danger so long as one keeps a cool head 

 and the ropes do not break. It is a common sight to see men 

 with loads and women with children on their backs cross these 

 bridges. But heavy loads are usually fixed to the runners and 

 hauled across by a rope attached to them. 



None of the rivers traversing Chiarung territory is navigable 

 in the ordinary sense of the term, but skin coracles, broadly 

 oval in shape, descend certain stretches of the Upper Tung 

 River. These frail boats serve also to ferry over goods and 

 passengers at certain necessary places. They are made of 

 cattle hide stretched over ribs of tough, light wood. The whole 

 coracle is very easily carried by one man, and closely resembles 

 pictures of the boats used by ancient Britons prior to the 

 Roman invasion. They are steered by a man seated in the 

 stern operating a paddle, and accommodate about two 

 passengers. A passage down or across stream in one of these 

 coracles consists very largely in describing, more or less rapidly, 

 a series of wide circles and half circles. As a novelty, pro- 

 ductive of excitement, not unmixed with danger, these coracles 

 and cable bridges can with confidence be recommended to 

 " World's Fair " promoters and showmen generally. The skin 

 coracle is in general use at ferries throughout Eastern Thibet 

 and the Marches, and is not strictly a Chiarung specialty. 



In height the tribesmen average about 5 feet 7 inches or 

 rather more ; the face is usually oval, with rather pointed 

 chin, straight nose, sometimes inclining towards aquiline. 

 They dress ordinarily in undyed serge cloth of local make, 

 worn in the same manner as that of the Sifan. The legs 

 are swathed in felt putties ; the head-gear is either a turban 



