Nov. 1848. PARTIES OF TIBETANS. 203 



to which, they become so weather-worn from exposure to 

 the most rigorous climate in the world, that their natural 

 hues are rarely to be recognised. Their customary mode of 

 saluting one another is to hold out the tongue, grin, nod, and 

 scratch their ear ; but this method entails so much ridicule 

 in the low countries, that they do not practise it to Nepalese 

 or strangers ; most of them when meeting me, on the 

 contrary, raised their hands to their eyes, threw them- 

 selves on the ground, and kotowed most decorously, 

 bumping their foreheads three times on the ground ; even 

 the women did this on several occasions. On rising, they 

 begged for a bucksheesh, which I gave in tobacco or snuff, 

 of which they are immoderately fond. Both men and 

 women constantly spin wool as they travel. 



These motley groups of Tibetans are singularly pic- 

 turesque, from the variety in their parti-coloured dresses, 

 and their odd appearance. First comes a middle-aged 



TIBET MASTIFF. 



man or woman, driving a little silky black yak, grunting 

 under his load of 260 lb. of salt, besides pots, pans, and 



