A -tun-tsi 53 
flutter gaily from tall poles in all the villages, and at 
Yang-tsa, where there is a small temple on the opposite 
side of the river, half a dozen bamboo ropes are stretched 
across and similarly decorated. 
The river here is lined with big juniper trees, and in 
the gorges below, where the rainfall is considerable and the 
vegetation correspondingly dense, the Tree of Heaven 
(Azlanthus glandulosa) is frequently conspicuous. Beyond 
Yangtsa however, the climate changes in a remarkable 
manner, and it is to be noted that this change of climate is 
closely correlated with the change of race already alluded 
to. A similar double change occurs in the Salween valley, 
as we Shall point out presently. 
The native of S.E. Tibet or Kham is an extremely tall 
man, averaging little under six feet, though he looks even 
taller by reason of his slimness—unless indeed it is his 
height which makes him look slim for, when stripped, the 
great depth of his muscular chest and the set of his powerful 
shoulders give an indication of his unusual strength. 
I found them pleasant and friendly people, though 
filthy. It was rare indeed to meet a man who did not 
salute me by spreading out both hands in front of him, 
palms upwards, perhaps a survival from some form of 
greeting indicating that the hands conceal no weapon. 
Less frequently they greeted me by putting out their 
tongues, but when they asked for anything they always 
closed their fists and stuck up their thumbs. Consequently 
I came to regard the outspread hands as an ordinary road- 
side greeting, the putting out of the tongue as a more 
humble mode of address, and the sticking up of thumbs as 
a sign that a favour was being asked. 
The men wear a single long robe like a dressing-gown 
made of sackcloth, and leather-soled cloth boots reaching 
to the knee; in the daytime this cloak is tied up round 
the waist clear of the knees, forming a short skirt or kilt, 
and one shoulder is usually slipped out, or in the summer 
time both shoulders, the sleeves then being tied round the 
waist. At night the Tibetan wraps himself up in this long 
cloak and lies down to sleep whether it be under the stars 
or ina house. Year in and year out, night and day, this 
coarse hempen cloak serves the poor Tibetan for clothing. 
