560 Journal of a trip through Kimawur, tyc. [No. 102. 



The Chinese Tartars again are usually bare headed, with the hair 

 in front cut close, or gathered back into a long plaited tail, which falls 

 down behind. 



The women are certainly, without exception, the ugliest I ever be- 

 held, and usually vie with the men in filthiness of dress and person. 

 They are fond of red garments, which consist of a woollen petticoat 

 reaching to a little below the knee, with trowsers and boots similar to 

 those of the men ; a blanket is also usually thrown across the 

 shoulders, and fastened in front upon the breast with a large steel 

 needle or piece of string. 



In Kunawurakind of brooch made of brass, and called "peechook," 

 is used instead of the needle, and looks better. 



Some wear a cap like the men, but generally the hair is thrown off 

 the forehead, plaited into numerous long tails, and hangs down the 

 back, where it is kept from flying about in the wind by a girdle, which 

 confines it to the waist ; this is sometimes of leather, and is studded 

 over with pieces of amber and coloured stones ; another similar strap 

 of leather is also worn on the head, hanging from the forehead over 

 the crown and down the back, this too is studded like the former with 

 stones or glass of different colours, and is used both as an ornament 

 and as a means of keeping down the back hair by its weight. 



When kept neat and clean, as some of them are, this style of head 

 dress has a very pleasing effect. 



Both men and women have very low, flat foreheads, small eyes, 

 broad flat faces, and high cheek bones, which together with a cloak of 

 goat's skins worn by the women with the hair inwards, gives to their 

 square short figures very much the appearance of the pictures we see 

 of the Esquimaux. 



To the Tartars of Hungrung and Spiti, feelings of modesty appear 

 to be totally unknown, or if known, they are disregarded. Men and 

 women too, may sometimes be seen unblushingly bathing together in 

 the same stream, in a state of nakedness. 



The Tartars of Spiti are stout made, athletic looking fellows, but 

 they are poor spiritless cowards, forming in this respect, if report speaks 

 truth, a marked contrast to the tribes of Chinese Tartary, who are 

 represented as a bold and fearless people, though of a mild and gentle 

 disposition. 



