A HOUSEHOLD PICTURE. 89 



" The furniture and fittings of these dwellings are exceedingly 

 simple ; the fire being made on the ground in the centre of the yourt, 

 directly opposite to the door voilocks are spread : on these stand 

 sundry boxes, which contain the different articles of clothing, pieces 

 of Chinese silk, tea, dried fruits, ambas of silver (small squares, about 

 two and a half inches long, one inch and a half wide, and about three- 

 tenths of an inch thick). Some of the Kirghiz possess large quanti- 

 ties of these ambas, which are carefully hoarded up. Above these 

 boxes are bales of Bokharian and Persian carpets, some of great 

 beauty and value. In another part of the yourt is the large koumis 

 sack, completely covered up with voilock to keep it warm and aid 

 the fermentation. In another part of the yourt is the large leathern 

 koumis sack, completely covered up with voilock to keep it warm and 

 aid the fermentation. 



" And near this bag stands a large leathern bottle, sometimes 

 holding four gallons, often much ornamented; so are the small 

 bottles made to carry on the saddle. In another place stands the large 

 iron caldron, and the trivet on which it is placed when used for 

 cooking in the yourt. There are usually half-a-dozen Chinese wooden 

 bowls, often beautifully painted and japanned. These are used to 

 drink the koumis from ; some of them hold three pints, others more. 

 On entering a Kirghiz yourt in summer, one of the Chinese bowls full 

 of koumis is presented to each guest. It is considered impolite to 

 return the vessel before emptying it, and a good Kirghiz is never 

 guilty of this impropriety. 



" The saddles are placed on the bales of carpets. Kich horse- 

 trappings being highly prized by the wealthy Kirghiz, many of their 

 saddles are beautiful and costly. If of Kirghiz workmanship, they 

 are decorated with silver inlaid on iron, in chaste ornamental designs, 

 and have velvet cushions ; the bridles and other trappings covered 

 with small iron plates inlaid in the same manner. 



" Leathern thongs and ropes made of camel's hair are hung up 

 on the trellis-work, common saddles, saddle-cloths, and leathern 

 tchimbar. This part of a Kirghiz costume is frequently made of black 



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