1850.] Report on the Valley of Spiti. 445 



with a woollen string. The shoe is made large and the vacuum filled 

 with busa or wool. 



Their heads are usually bare, but they have a large moveable orna- 

 ment made of brass, or sometimes of silver and gold, studded with a 

 variety of turquoises, which extends from the forehead over the parting 

 of the hair, and reaches in a long tail behind. They wear their hair 

 long in a number of plaits. They also wear a variety of necklaces of 

 amber, coral, &c. ; and coral earings and wrist ornaments cut from the 

 chalk shell. No woman is without these ornaments. The higher 

 class sometimes wear a kind of cap made of Kimkhab and trimmed 

 with sable fur, but these are seldom seen ; a woman may be said almost 

 always to appear with a bare head : they are in no way secluded, and 

 are free and frank in their manners, and of very cheerful disposition. 



The dress of the men much resembles that of the women, but their 

 heads are generally covered with a sheep skin cap, or one of black 

 blanket hanging loose, with a light blue border. Many wear their hair 

 in one long platted tail, with, occasionally, turquoises and corals. 

 They have all a necklace of coarse amber and other beads. They also 

 wear, suspended round their waist, a flint and steel, and round their 

 necks a polished piece of brass which serves as a looking glass, and 

 various charms. 



The Lambas have a variety of head dresses, but all in the Chinese 

 style, either a cap or a hat. 



Food. — Their food consists almost entirely of a sort of Sattii, made 

 from wheat, barley, or peas. They occasionally eat meat boiled into a 

 soup ; and drink quantities of tea, boiled with butter and salt. Yak's 

 flesh is eaten without prejudice ; but, in killing any animal they abstain 

 from shedding blood, and usually strangle. They have no poultry ; in 

 fact I doubt if fowls would live. They have not a fruit or vegetable 

 in their country. Turnips, which are cultivated in Kunnawar, are not 

 seen here. I think that cabbages and beet root might be introduced 

 here with great advantage to the health of the people. Potatoes would 

 not thrive, the cold being too severe. Tobacco is smoked by nearly 

 every man, who has a pipe made of iron stuck into his cammarband, 

 and a leather pouch for his tobacco. 



Religious Institutions, — The faith of all the inhabitants of Spiti is 

 " Buddhism." The priesthood form a large portion of such a small 



3 M 



