The Mongols. 



saddlery is decorated with gaudy trappings, and, in the case of 

 the wealthy, boasts much silver plate and other adornment. 



The food of the Mongol comprises mutton, milk and brick 

 tea, grain being to them an unknown quantity. Brick tea forms 

 one of the chief imports from China, and the Mongols use large 

 quantities of it. The tea, in the form of bricks or slabs, is sliced 

 off with a knife in the same way as one would take chips from a 

 plank. It is made in water to which salt is added, and the 

 beverage, mixed with milk or cream, is then stirred and boiled. 

 The iron pot is only cleaned at long intervals, and then very 

 cursorily, so that the resultant mixture is of a doubtful quality. 



Meat when eaten is boiled or sometimes roasted over the fire, 

 chunks of it being thrust into the camel or cow dung furnace, 

 contact with the latter giving it a tastiness it would lack 

 were it prepared in less primitive fashion. " Kumis " is also 

 a drink much in favour amongst the Mongols, and a form of cheese 

 made from clotted cream is met with in nearly every aul. 



A Mongol does not trouble much about washing, so that he, 

 too, evidently pays scant attention to the old adage that cleanli- 

 ness is next to godhness. The operations of eating are performed 

 with the fingers, on the principle that the latter were made before 

 forks. At the close of the meal he wipes his hands on the skirt 

 of his robe, the use of finger bowls and serviettes being dispensed 

 with. 



The men are lazy and indolent and leave most of the 

 work to be done by the women, who prepare the meals, manu- 

 facture the kumis, and contribute a large share to the task of 

 herding the flocks and securing them at night after their return 

 from the grazing grounds. The men watch the flocks mounted 

 on their sturdy ponies, and when not thus engaged spend their 

 time gossiping or visiting other auls with the same object. 



Horse racing is much indulged in, a pastime at which the 

 Mongol shows to great advantage. 



Those of them inhabiting the more mountainous portions of 

 the country excel as shikaris and hunters, being keen, good on 



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