1850.] Report on the Valley of Spiti. 443 



Polyandrism. — The abominable custom of polyandrism prevails, that 

 is, a woman marries a family of brothers. 



A man in good circumstances has sometimes two or three wives ; 

 but, from the first circumstance, and the priesthood not marrying, the 

 proportion of unmarried females is large. 



Slavery unknown. — Slavery is unknown amongst them. They are 

 free in their manners, without being rude, or inquisitive ; and have a 

 certain degree of Chinese cunning. 



No interest taken for money. — They never take interest for money, 

 but often lend and borrow amongst themselves. 



Houses. — Their houses are large and well built, and generally two 

 or three stories high. The first three feet built of stone, and the re- 

 mainder of sun dried bricks, 18 inches long, 8 wide, and 6 deep, cement- 

 ed with calcareous mortar. The roofs are flat, with a layer of willow 

 or tamarisk twigs, over which is about 6 inches of earth. On the 

 outer walls are usually deposited grass and wood for winter use, and the 

 houses of the richer zemindars are always distinguished by the neatness 

 with which this is stored. This keeps the snow off their walls. One 

 room in a house is usually 20 feet square, or 24 by 20, the roof sup- 

 ported by a double row of wooden pillars, the architrave being, in the 

 better houses, highly carved in Chinese style, in the form of dragons, 

 &c. The two centre beams, are about 2 feet apart, and over these, to 

 form a ceiling, willow or juniper sticks, pealed of their bark, are 

 crossed, and placed close together giving a neat and cleanly appearance ; 

 this however is much destroyed by the lighting of fires in the room* 

 and there being no exit for the smoke, except by the door and some 

 very small windows, which are usually on only one side of the room. 

 The walls are generally washed with a slate-colored marl, and a cornice 

 imitated by a band of white and red, sometimes yellow, made from 

 gypsum, and red and yellow ochre. Generally speaking they are ex- 

 tremely well housed. On the outside corners of the houses are usually 

 erected poles, with a black Yak's tail on each. The whole family live 

 in one house, consisting usually of a grandfather and mother down to 

 the grandson, &c. 



Khatak presented, a Chinese custom, — "When the parties can afford 

 it, distinct buildings, but close together, are occupied; the grand- 

 parents occupying the second best. If they die, the father occupies 



