52 TEA-DRINKING. 



swarms with parasites, which he amuses himself by 

 kilHng in the most unceremonious way. It is a 

 common sight to see a Mongol, even an official or 

 lama of high rank, in the midst of a large circle of 

 his acquaintances, open his sheepskin or kaftan to 

 catch an offending insect and execute him on the 

 spot between his front teeth. The uncleanliness 

 and dirt amidst which they live is partly attributable 

 to their dislike, almost amounting to dread, of water 

 or damp. Nothing will induce a Mongol to cross 

 the smallest marsh where he might possibly wet his 

 feet, and he carefully avoids pitching his yurta any- 

 where near damp ground or in the vicinity of a 

 spring, stream, or marsh. Moisture is as fatal to 

 him as it is to the camel, so that it would seem as 

 if his organism, like the camel's, were only adapted 

 to a dry climate ; he never drinks cold water, but 

 always prefers brick-tea, a staple article of consump- 

 tion with all the Asiatic nomads. It is procured 

 from the Chinese, and the Mongols are so passion- 

 ately fond of it that neither men nor women can do 

 without it for many days. From morning till night 

 the kettle is simmering on the hearth, and all mem- 

 bers of the family constantly have recourse to it. 

 It is the first refreshment offered to a guest. The 

 mode of preparation is disgusting ; the vessel ^ in 

 which the tea is boiled Is never cleansed, and is 



* Their domestic utensils are anything but numerous. They are — 

 an iron saucepan, for boiling their food in, teapot, a skimmer, a 

 leathern skin or wooden tub to hold water or milk, a wooden trough for 

 serving the meat in. To these must be added an iron fire-dog, tongs to 

 hold the argols, and occasionally a Chinese axe. 



