DRESS OF TANdUTANS. U3 



r at th(^ bcL^inning of words when joined to one or 

 more vowels is almost inaudible : rgdamit (wife), 

 rmiikha-a (cloud). 



The dress of the Tangutans is of cloth or sheep- 

 skins, suitable to the climate, which is very damp in 

 summer and cold in winter. The summer costume 

 worn by men and women consists of a grey cloth 

 coat, or long tunic, reaching down to the knees, Chi- 

 nese or home-made boots, and a low-crowned broad- 

 brimmed felt hat. Shirts and trowsers are never 

 worn, and in winter the sheepskin cloak is put on 

 next to the skin ; the upper part of the legs is usuall)' 

 bare. The richer persons wear robes made c>f Chi- 

 nese daba (cotton cloth), but this is considered a 

 luxury ; the lamas have the usual red or, more 

 rarely, yellow dresses. Their clothes are far inferior 

 in texture to those of the Mongols, and the silken 

 robe, so frequently seen among the Khalkas, is quite 

 the exception here. But whatever the garment or 

 the season of the year, the Tangutan always lets the 

 right sleeve hang down empty, leaving the arm and 

 part of the breast on that side exposed ; a habit 

 maintained even on a journey, weather permitting. 



The smartest among them trim their coats with 

 fur of the Tibetan panther, and wear a large silver 

 earring set with a sapphire in the left ear ; a tinder- 

 box and knife stuck into the belt behind, and a 

 tobacco-pouch and pipe on the left side, are wc^ni 

 by all. The inhabitants of Koko-nor and Tsaidam 

 carry long Tib(,'tan swords, made of ver)" interior 

 vol.. II. 1 



