1845.] Report of an Expedition into the Mishmee Hills. 489 



serves to cover the breasts, and a skirt that reaches from the waist as 

 far as the knee ; on the head is worn a tiara of silver, and a profusion of 

 beads are suspended around the neck. 



The principal weapons used are the spear, and a straight sword of Lama 

 manufacture, to which is occasionally added a matchlock or crossbow, from 

 which "are projected poisoned arrows. When proceeding on any expe- 

 dition of danger, a strong coat of sufficient thickness to ward off the 

 force of an arrow is added to their costume, as well as a cap of fur, 

 or split bamboo. 



In person both male and female are disgustingly dirty, and, with the 

 exception of a few of the chiefs, are seldom washed from one year's end 

 to another. 



Manufactures. — The clothes worn by these people are for the most 

 part made by themselves, and consist of cotton which is cultivated by 

 them for the purpose, and a few woollen articles made from the fleece of 

 the Lama sheep, and in appearance seem to possess great durability both 

 as to color and material. The hills, however, beyond the first range of 

 mountains bordering Assam not being capable of producing cotton, the 

 people beyond these limits are therefore entirely dependent for dress on 

 the Mishmees bordering Assam, and the Lama people on the north side 

 of the snowy range. In all other branches of manufacture, these people 

 seem to be very deficient, and with the exception of spear heads and a 

 few articles of this description, are capable of producing no kind of 

 utensils that might prove of use to them in ordinary life. 



Trade. — Trade is carried on by the Mishmees almost entirely by barter, 

 and the tribes to the north of the Burhampooter may be divided into two 

 classes, namely, those who trade with Assam and those who trade with 

 the Lama people ; the first usually bring down to Assam, swords, spears, 

 gongs, copper vessels, with small quantities of Mishmee teeta and poison, 

 which they exchange for cattle, salt, and various kinds of cloth, beads, 

 &c. ; but most of these articles not being produced by themselves, they 

 are obliged to procure them from the Mishmees who trade with Lama, 

 and for which they give cloths made by themselves, and those they 

 take back from Assam. The second division having nothing to offer in 

 barter but the Mishmee teeta and poison, which is only to be found on 

 the mountains near the limit of perpetual snow ; being in great request 

 by the people of Tibet, they are enabled to exchange it for cattle, gongs, 



