SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES. 281 



sioned a relation of Saja, called Tsorji Osir, to translate 

 the Tibetan sacred books into Mongol, with the use of 

 Bashpa's alphabet. Finding this unmanageable, he reverted 

 to the Uighuresque characters of his kinsman Saja, with 

 some additions, but even so found it necessary to write 

 many whole words in Tibetan characters. Some years 

 later, in the reign of Khaishan or Jenezek Khan, the suc- 

 cessor of Temur (1307-13 11), who was a man of education, 

 the task was resumed ; and under his direction Tsorji 

 brought the Syro-Uighur alphabet to perfection. This is 

 substantially the character still in use among the Mongols, 

 though some additions have been since made to it. The 

 Manchu alphabet, again, was modelled upon this Mongol 

 one.i— [Y.] 



THE KHATA {KHADAK), OR CEREMONIAL SCARF. 



P- 73- 



The fullest notice of this curious usage in polite inter- 

 course is given by Hue (ii. 85 scqq.) : — 



' There are kJiatas of all sizes and prices ; for it is an 

 article that the poor can dispense with no more than the 

 rich. No one moves about without a little store of them. 

 If you go to pay a visit of ceremony, or to ask a favour of 

 anyone, or to return thanks for one received, you begin by 

 displaying the kJiata ; you take it in both hands and pre- 

 sent it to the person whom you wish to honour. If two 

 friends who have not met for a long time chance to for- 

 gather, their first care is the reciprocal offer of the khata ; 

 . . . also when a letter is written it is customary to fold up 

 along with it a small kJiata. The finest phrases, the hand- 

 somest presents, all are of no esteem without the khata ; 

 with it, the most ordinary objects acquire an immense 

 value . . . These khatas form an important branch of 

 commerce for the Chinese of Tang-keu-eur (Tonkir). The 

 Tibetan embassies never pass without carrying алуау a pro- 

 digious stock of them.' Bogle and Turner often mention 

 the thing, but not the name of khata. — [Y.] 



' See Abel-Rc'musat, Langucs Tartarcs. 



