FROM TONKIN TO INDIA 



Chinese Setchuen, of leprosy being often conveyed by the pro- 

 miscuous feeding of the fowls in the infected localities. 



Joseph furnished me with interesting details concerning the 

 Lissou tribes. Among the Ain-Lissous both births and deaths are 

 celebrated as with the Chinese. The Koua-Lissous on the occa- 

 sion of a birth offer presents and felicitations to the mother. In 

 China the days of each moon are designated thus : — 



1st day by rat. 

 2nd ,, ,, ox. 

 3rd ,, ,, tiger. 

 4th ,, „ rabbit. 

 5th ,, ,, dragon. 

 6th ,, ,, serpent. 

 7 th „ „ horse. 

 8th „ ,, sheep. 

 9th ,, „ monkey, 

 loth ,, ,, fowl. 

 I ith „ ,, dog. 

 1 2th ,, „ pig. 

 The Koua-Lissous regard the day of the horse as most favour- 

 able for burial ; the Pd-Lissous always the day succeeding death. 

 They plant a post before the grave, and hang on it the bow and 

 arrows and wood of the plough of the former owner, and near them 

 leave a bowl and a few sapecks, that the deceased may not be 

 destitute of what was his in life. 



Our halting-place on the 26th (July) was the Lamasjen village 

 of Feou-tsen. While the unloading proceeded, I watched a stalwart 

 girl who with open flowing white garments leaned her bare arms 

 with copper bracelets on a stone, while she gazed intently on the 



work, impervious to the importunities of a goat that butted at her 



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