April, 1848. LEPCHAS, DRESS AND ORNAMENTS. 131 



bowstring ; and a little pouch, containing aconite poison 

 and a few common implements, is suspended to his girdle. 

 A hat he seldom wears, and when he does, it is often 

 extravagantly broad and flat-brimmed, with a small 

 hemispherical crown. It is made of leaves of Scitami7iece i 

 between two thin plates of bamboo-work, clumsy and 

 heavy ; this is generally used in the rainy weather, while 

 in the dry a conical one is worn, also of platted slips of 

 bamboo, with broad flakes of talc between the layers, and 

 a peacock's feather at the side. The umbrella consists of 

 a large hood, much like the ancient boat called a coracle, 

 which being placed over the head reaches to the thighs 

 behind. It is made of platted bamboo, enclosing broad 

 leaves of Phrynium. A group of Lepchas with these on, 

 running along in the pelting rain, are very droll figures ; 

 they look like snails with their shells on their backs. All 

 the Lepchas are fond of ornaments, wearing silver hoops 

 in their ears, necklaces made of cornelian, amber, and 

 turquoise, brought from Tibet, and pearls and corals from 

 the south, with curious silver and golden charm-boxes or 

 amulets attached to their necks or arms. These are of 

 Tibetan workmanship, and often of great value : they 

 contain little idols, charms and written prayers, or the 

 bones, hair, or nail-parings of a Lama : some are of great 

 beauty, and highly ornamented. In these decorations, and 

 in their hair, they take some pride, the ladies frequently 

 dressing the latter for the gentlemen : thus one may often 

 see, the last thing at night, a damsel of discreet port, 

 demurely go behind a young man, unplait his pig-tail, 

 teaze the hair, thin it of some of its lively inmates, braid 

 it up for him, and retire. The women always wear 

 two braided pig-tails, and it is by this they are 

 most readily distinguished from their effeminate-looking 



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